Major fires continue to sweep through north-eastern Greece and Lesbos
- Post By Magdalena Reed
- 10:08, 24 July, 2022
Athens, 24 July 2022 (dpa/MIA) — Large fires in the Dadia National Park in north-eastern Greece and on the northern Aegean island of Lesbos continued to burn out of control on Sunday.
The village of Dadia was evacuated overnight and in the morning military and forestry workers were in action to cut fire breaks in the pine forest.
[caption id="attachment_1454660" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 23 July 2022, Greece, Vatera: Smokes rise during a forest fire near the seaside resort of Vatera on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos. The civil defence ordered the evacuation of the village of Vatera. Photo: -/Eurokinissi via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa[/caption]
It is hoped the strips of land that have been cleared of vegetation will stop the fire from spreading by depriving it of fuel.
Some 320 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the blaze.
[caption id="attachment_1454657" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 23 July 2022, Greece, Vatera: Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire near the seaside resort of Vatera on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos. The civil defence ordered the evacuation of the village of Vatera. Photo: -/Eurokinissi via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa[/caption]
A major fire was also still burning on the southern side of the island of Lesbos, where a village had been evacuated on Saturday. Several houses and cars have been burned.
The region recently experienced strong winds, which further fanned the flames.
[caption id="attachment_1454659" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 23 July 2022, Greece, Vatera: Firefighters work on the balcony of a residential building as they try to extinguish a forest fire near the seaside resort of Vatera on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos. The civil defence ordered the evacuation of the village of Vatera. Photo: -/Eurokinissi via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa[/caption]
According to the Civil Defence, virtually all available firefighting helicopters and aircraft are currently in use throughout Greece.
Within 24 hours, 141 fires were registered across Greece, according to the fire department.
[caption id="attachment_1454658" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 23 July 2022, Greece, Vatera: Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire near the seaside resort of Vatera on the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos. The civil defence ordered the evacuation of the village of Vatera. Photo: -/Eurokinissi via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa[/caption]
Among others, a substation of the state electricity company near the town of Larisa in central Greece was burned.
For Sunday, authorities continued to assess the fire danger as high. Meteorologists gave high temperatures of up to 40 degrees and forecasted little precipitation for the coming days.