The gradual evacuation of the hospital of Alexandroupolis continues since last night, until now, due to the large fire raging in the area. The decision to evacuate the hospital was taken in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous and the president of EKAV Nikos Papaefstathiou, who went to Alexandroupoli last night.

The decision to transfer the patients by ambulance to health units within the 4th Health Region was prompted by the spread of the fire, which since the early hours of Saturday has spread to settlements in the Municipality of Alexandroupoli, with flames visible after 01:00 in the wider area of ​​the hospital.

The destructive course of the fire – despite the superhuman efforts of the fire brigade and due to the strong winds that are still blowing in the Municipality of Alexandroupolis – continues, resulting in the evacuation after 02.00 of coastal settlements west of the city: these are the communities of Dikela, Makri, Nea Chili, Elaionas, Ai-Giorgis, Plaka, Nenato, Pefki.

In the last hours, tourists and residents of the areas in question are heading towards Alexandroupoli, following the directive of the Civil Protection sent through 112.

Places of hospitality and stay

Shortly after 03.00, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis informed via social networking sites that there is a possibility of residents who left their homes staying at the “Michalis Paraskevopoulos” indoor gym, the KEGE indoor gym and the Municipal Theater.

Open to accommodate people from the evacuated areas are the churches of Agia Kyriaki, Agios Nikolaos, Agios Nektarios and the Transfiguration of the Savior as well as the Zarifios Academy.

The parking lot at the port is also open, while it is also possible to stay in the departure hall and the parking lot of the “Dimokritos” airport, as well as on the EOT beach.

The 3rd and 4th floors of the Evros Chamber of Commerce, on Demokratia Avenue, as well as the Reading Room on Joakeim Kaviris, have also been made available to people who need temporary accommodation.

The president of the Chamber, Christodoulos Topsidis, said through social networking sites: “Expressing our support for the great ordeal that Alexandroupolis is going through, the building of the Evros Chamber is available to people who have left their homes or to tourists who are waiting for transport, having leave the hotels where they are staying”.

Speaking to APE-MPE, Mr. Topsidis added: “We consider it our duty to help with all our strength in the great test that our country is going through and of course our Chamber will be helpful in any attempt to manage this crisis”.

Yesterday afternoon, a government delegation went to Evros consisting of the Deputy Minister of the Interior responsible for Macedonia-Thrace, Stathis Konstantinidis, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection responsible for Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid, Christos Triantopoulos, the General Secretary of Public Order, Manos Logothetis, the Chief of the General Directorate of Environmental Protection, General Konstantinos Floros and the general director of Forests and Forest Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Vangelis Goudoufa.