A huge front of several kilometers from Dervenochoria to Mandra has been formed by the fire that broke out yesterday Monday in the area and which is raging uncontrollably, destroying everything in its path.

The front stretches from the forest of Dervenochoria, which is still burning, to the outskirts of Mandra, with the flames having entered the settlement of Nea Zoi, leaving behind burnt houses and damage to property, while the destruction to the natural world is incalculable wealth.

The fire in Dervenochoria has reached large proportions, while the fire in the wider area of ​​Loutraki has not yet been controlled, the press representative of the Fire Brigade, fire chief Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, said in an emergency briefing. As he said about the fire that has been raging since yesterday in Dervenochoria, damages have been found and the firefighters in cooperation with the police forces had to carry out extrications in several cases.

The most important fires that occurred today and required the intervention of ground and air forces and have now been controlled, as Mr. Vathrakogiannis said, were in Heraklia Ilias, in Dafni Attica (one near the Afaia settlement and the second near Athens Avenue, which manifested almost simultaneously) in Kalloni of Lesbos, in Galini of Larissa in crop residues, in Chrysokellaria of Messinia as well as in Sesklo of Magnesia.

“In most fires, many co-authorized bodies of the Civil Protection provide assistance”, noted Mr. Vathrakogiannis and underlined that “all the forces of the Civil Protection of the territory, are fighting on the fronts of the fires and for the protection of infrastructure, property and natural environment”. He also pointed out that France and Italy responded to our country’s request to the European Civil Protection Mechanism and will provide 4 aircraft which are expected in our country in the next few hours.

At the same time, he underlined that the next few days are characterized as dangerous for the start and expansion of the fires and stressed that “the attention of all of us is imperative”. In addition, he stated that according to the updated Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena of the National Meteorological Service, high temperatures will prevail in the coming days and the winds will reach the Aegean at 7 Beaufort and added that for tomorrow Wednesday, a very high risk of fire is expected in Attica, Boeotia , Evia, Corinth, Argolis, Crete, Cyclades, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria and Psara.

Here is the text of the update:

“Good evening from the Fire Department Operations Center.

47 forest fires broke out in the last 24 hours. Most of them were treated immediately at their initial stage.

In Dervenochoria, the fire is ongoing, it has reached large dimensions, damages have been found and the firefighters, in cooperation with the police forces, had to carry out extrications in several cases.

The forest fire in the wider area of ​​Loutraki has not yet been controlled.

The most important fires that occurred today that required ground and air forces to operate and have now been controlled, were:

in Heraklia Ilia,
two more fires that occurred almost simultaneously in Dafni Attica, one near the Afaia settlement and the second near Athens Avenue,
in Kalloni Lesvos
in Galini Larisa in crop residues and
in Chrysokelaria of Messinia and
in Sesklo Magnesia
In most fires, many co-competent bodies of Civil Protection provide assistance.

France and Italy have responded to our country’s request to the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which will provide 4 aircraft which we expect in our country in the next few hours.

According to the updated Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena of the National Meteorological Service, high temperatures will prevail in the coming days and the winds will reach the Aegean at 7 Beaufort.

Therefore, for tomorrow Wednesday, a very high risk of fire is expected in Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Corinth, Argolis, Laconia, Crete, Cyclades, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria and Psara.

The flames in Nea Zoi Mandras – The situation is dramatic

The firestorm reached the entrance of Nea Zoi Mandrawith police forces going door-to-door, in order to evacuate and of the last citizens remaining in their estates, so that human lives are not endangered. Already, the first images from Nea Zoi Mandras show buildings that have been given over to the flames, while the front is raging uncontrollably. Shortly after 7 pm, an evacuation order was given for the residents of the Glykia Zoi settlement towards Agioi Theodorou, near the refineries, while a little earlier the old and the new Athens-Corinth highway had been closed.

Talking on his radio SKAI 100.3 the president of the settlement of Nea Zoi, Vassilis Papanikolaou reported that the fire is burning uncontrollably, while as he said he has information that at least three houses have been burned located on the outskirts of the settlement. As he pointed out, if the water drops from the helicopters continue and more fire engines arrive, at least 80% of the settlement will be saved.

The fire from Dervenochoria now threatens Mandra and its settlementsas the mayor of Mandra-Idyllia, Christos Stathis, reports to APE-MPE, from the Panorama settlement where he is with his colleagues, are urging residents to evacuate as a precaution. He notes that a little earlier at the initiative of the self-government the settlements of Pournari and Nea Zoi were evacuated as the flames from the outskirts of Mandra, where it was early morning, “with the help of the strong wind as well as the piney and grassy nature of the vegetation, passed the height-settlement of Ag. Sotira towards N. Zoi and then towards Mandra” and appeals to immediately send aerial means to deal with the fire which is spreading rapidly.

For his part, the first local councilor of Mandras Panagiotis Papaioannou noted that the settlements of Villa Erythres are temporarily out of dangerand how the direction of the fire is towards Mandra-Elefsina. He also reports to APE-MPE that there is a firefighting force on the ground, but it is not enough to stop the intensity of the fire’s progress and emphasizes that aerial means are urgently needed. He adds that machines and trucks with water tankers for fire fighting have been dispatched from the Districtand the neighboring municipalities of Liosion and Aspropyrgos, while together with the civil protection mechanism of the Municipality, a large association of forest firefighting volunteers also operates.

Watch video from Attiki Street:

Evacuation order in settlements

An evacuation order has already been given, except for Nea Zoi Mandrasto evacuate the settlements of Pournari, Panorama, Agia Sotira, Paleochori and Neos Pontos.

The situation is extremely difficult in Panorama. Notice for the evacuation of Nea Zoi Mandra as well as the settlement of Pontos towards Elefsina. Just before 2 in the afternoon an evacuation notice was also issued for the settlement of Neos Pontos. Shortly after 2 in the afternoon, as Mandras mayor Christos Stathis said on Sky TV the fire has crossed the national road and is going towards Mandra.

fire fronts

Operations are being conducted on the western side of the fire front and an effort is being made to contain the fire on the old Mandras Thivas national road.

The prime minister hastily returns from Brussels

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, due to the ongoing fires, returns earlier from Brussels where he has gone to participate in the Summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries.

Immediately after his arrival in Athens, the Prime Minister will move to the Civil Protection Operations Coordination Center.

Dervenohoria

However, there are also many revivals in the wider area of ​​Loutraki. Regarding the fire in Loutraki, as announced by the Fire Department, a recommendation was made for the preventive evacuation of the settlements of Agios Charalambos and Panorama. The front is located above Kallithea Loutrakiou and moves south southeast, over the highway. Gusts of wind spread the fire, causing the burns to be carried to an unburnt environment.

This time in the area of ​​Dervenochoria attempt 140 firefighters 48 vehicles, pedestrian units, while they operate 6 aerials on the western side of the front and 7 aerials on the eastern side.

Derv

Alongside, Greece asked for European assistance in media and two canadairs from France and two others from Italy are already expected to arrive.

According to the update from the forces operating on the fire fronts, the situation at 11.30 in the morning was as follows:

Saronida/Kouvaras: there is no active front, h business for full control continues with both ground forces and aerial means of wetting.

Aid Synergy with Christos Triandopoulos was from the morning at the mobile operations center Olympos (43rd km of Athens Souniu), where it took place distribution of crews and they have already started with the deputy mayors of the area to enter the settlements to record the damages.

fire

fire

Loutraki/Kallithea: Powerful aerial and ground firefighting forces are working on the forest fire in the wider area of ​​Kallithea, Loutraki they deal with the flare-ups that are taking place, mainly in the area of ​​Agios Charalambos, in order not to spread and threaten residential areas.

Alongside, firefighting forces are also dealing with scattered fire outbreakswhile regarding the damage caused by the fire, official registration is expected to begin once it is fully under control.

However, according to information, it is estimated that dozens of houses have been damaged, as well as warehouses and farmhouses.

Derbenochoria: the fire has been contained to the south in the Titan area, ground operations are focusing on the east and west sides of the fire perimeter. It is dense forest. Air forces have been strengthened.
There is still great difficulty due to the density of the forest and the ruggedness of the area.

fire

Warning 112 has been issued for Triasio due to smoke from the fire raging north: citizens to stay indoors and close doors and windows.

Power outages

No electricity due to the damage caused by the fire to the DEDDIE network, Sections of Saronida, the Olympos area in Lagonisi, the Olympic Village of Kalybion are located.

Also a small part of the village of Titan in Mandra Attica and the areas of Kallithea, Pefkia as well as the settlement of Irini in the same area.

DEDDIE crews are working to restore the network.