The fire department is going to fight the flames overnight for the big fire that is raging in Crete.

The fire broke out yesterday at noon south Rethymnonin the area of ​​Amari and took on uncontrollable dimensions with outbreaks in various places as the strong winds that were blowing today in the area resulted in the creation of a microclimate.

The winds, according to the Fire Department, appear to have died down, which will greatly facilitate the difficult work of the 290 men in 20 infantry units who are working at the points.

Almost all of the firefighting forces of Crete are in full mobilization and mobilization.

There are still 54 vehicles in the area, while until the last light of the day, 13 aircraft and a helicopter with two others tried periodically to coordinate the operation from the air.

Water tankers, project machines and volunteers also provide support.

Fortunately, the fire does not threaten a residential area and at this time it extends on two large fronts, towards Agia Paraskevi and the Apodoulou area respectively.

Kikilias in Crete

The Minister of Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias is expected to arrive shortly where he will meet with the deputy chief of the Fire Department, the mayor of Amari Pantelis Mourtzanos, the regional governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis, the deputy regional governor Maria Ioni and competent officers for the coordination and planning of firefighting on the fronts fire’s.

The Minister of Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias is expected in the area together with 40 forest commanders, who are expected to strengthen the firefighting forces, so that the fiery blaze can be dealt with as quickly as possible.

On his order, the firefighters will monitor the fronts of the fire throughout the night, while according to the National Meteorological Service, the winds in the area are expected to “fall” after 11:00 p.m.

Revivals

At this time, firefighting forces in groups are operating in areas where the fire has rekindled, with the main front concerning the villages of Platanos and Apodoulou, while rekindlings are also occurring in the villages of Vathiako and Agia Paraskevi.

These four villages were the most difficult fronts faced by the Fire Department until daylight, which also marked the end of airdrops from the total of 13 helicopters and aircraft that assisted the ground forces, as he told the Athens News Agency the mayor of Amario Pantelis Mourtzanos.

Amari

At the same time, restrained optimism, without room for complacency of course, is evoked by the image captured in Amari where the fire is essentially scattered “candles”, however enough in a crowd.

In any case, the thick smoke that has spread throughout southern Crete creates a suffocating scene for the citizens who in the afternoon received successive messages for readiness and evacuation of various areas.

Specifically, 9 messages were sent from 112 asking him to leave the villages of Agia Paraskevi, Platano, Apodoulou, Vathiako, Lochria, Adrachtos, Rizikas, Satta and Chordaki.

Massive disasters

The devastation caused by the multi-faceted fire in the municipality of Amario is enormous and refers mainly to mixed olive groves.

There are thousands of acres that have burned, with the majority of them in olive groves, while the villages that have been evacuated. in total there are nine, as characteristically mentioned by the mayor of Amari.

The wind was the biggest enemy because it was constantly changing direction, it was constantly rekindling fronts, which firefighters had managed to put out and this almost created a situation, as Mr. Mourtzanos characteristically stated, of “perfect panic”.