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The fire that started on Friday in Kallirachi on the island of Thassos is still raging and according to the initial estimates of the mayor, more than 5,000 acres of pine trees and shrubs have been burnt. 16 fire-engines with 52 fire-fighters and 59 other employees are working at the site, and four aircraft and two helicopters are throwing water by air.

Access to the fire area is very difficult because it is an d on the island in order to support the tracked vehicles of the army that arrived yesterday.impassable terrain. Early in the morning, new machines of the Office for Civil Protection arrive

Governor of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Aris Yianakidis and the regional head of the fire service have been on Thassos since Friday afternoon in order for a better coordination of the work of the fire-fighters.

During the night, the fire-fighters were trying to prevent the risk to the villages of Kallirachis and Marion and all efforts were concentrated on constructing restricted zones as close as possible to the fire front.

Mayor of Thassos Costas Hadziemanouil emphasised that work both on a municipal and district level is very intense. "Attempts of all are concentrated on the reduction of the fire and there is no danger to the villages at present." He added that it was very sad that the fire had destroyed part of the forest that had been planted again after the great fire of 1989.

At the same time, there are fires in the Bala region in Achaia, and the fires in Livanates, Florina and Katsimidi, Attica have been under control since yesterday.

Meanwhile two people have been arrested for fires and another in an attempt to ignite, as announced by the Fire Service. Employees of the Office for Combating arson in cooperation with the police have arrested a 56-year-old Greek, as a suspect in the fire at Katsimidi, Attica. Today, he will be brought to the prosecutor's office in Athens on a charge of arson. In addition, employees of the investigative department of the Fire Service of Chios have arrested a 41-year-old foreigner who is a suspect in the fire in Kapsala which broke out on Friday.

In parallel, a little after midnight, the police have detained a 67-year-old man in Kapandriti who is accused of an attempted arson. Two petrol-cans and a bottle with flammable liquid were discovered in his car. The police are investigating the possibility that the arrestee was involved in other similar activities.

The ban on movement from sunset to sunrise near forest areas by order of the Office for Civil Protection will remain in force until Sunday.

Another problem that has affected one of the biggest tourist centres - power cuts on the island of Santorini is moving towards normalisation. According to information from the Operator of the Power Grid, this is "because of improvements in the productive powers of the plant of the National Power Corporation DEI". According to this statement, new power cuts on Santorini and Thirassia will not be necessary.

It is clarified that the extraordinary power cuts will continue in small parts of the lines for limited periods, if required for the grid’s security. The Operator again called for reduced electricity consumption to what is absolutely necessary. Operator's employees are doing their utmost in order to service customers in the best possible way, noted the statement.

According to the Athens News Agency, last night, after 10:30 p.m., there were no power cuts for consumers. Currently, the manufacturing capacity of the power station on Santorini is more than 28 megawatts, which, in combination with meteorological conditions that limit the power consumption of air-conditioners, are sufficient to cover the needs.

Earlier today, generators with a capacity of 6 megawatts from Rhodes arrived at the port of Santorini, which will be taken to the station, and others with a capacity of 2 megawatts will arrive later today.