Galery

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The fire in the Agia Marina region on the island of Serifos is growing. According to residents, houses in Mega Horio have burned, as well as two houses in Megalo Livadi and 4,000 acres of fields.

In Megalo Livadi, two tourist shops are in flames, and an old office building, which is also one of the historic buildings on the island, was also destroyed by the fire.

There are 21 fire-fighters at the place with two fire engines, aided by air by two planes and one helicopter.

Heraklion, Crete: A fire is raging near Pompea

The fire that broke out on Saturday at noon between the villages of Alitini and Pompea is growing and has subsequently spread to Andiskati and Pagaydakiya in Messara, Iraklio region.

Greenhouses and plantations have already burned and fires are threatening people's homes, reaching their yards. Three helicopters, 22 vehicles, 55 fire-fighters, water tanks of the municipality, the police and residents of the area are taking part in the combat against the fires. Strong winds are hampering the fire-fighting department’s efforts.

In the villages of Andiskari and Pigaydakiya, the fire has reached houses, and yesterday afternoon evacuation of the villages was also considered an option - something that was eventually avoided because of the intervention of the fire brigade and three helicopters.

Although the fire was brought under control, fire-fighting forces will remain on site in order to prevent further outbreaks.

A large fire in southern Rhodes; a village is being evacuated

A large fire has been raging in a wooded area near Istrio in the southern part of Rhodes since noon yesterday.

35 fire-fighters and 18 vehicles, seven cars of the municipality, two private water tanks and two excavators are at the place.

Fire-fighting forces from Central Macedonia with 65 people were transferred to Rhodes today in order to reinforce the fire-fighting forces there who are trying to cope with the fire. Another 65 people from infantry units and 20 fire-fighters with 10 cars will come as reinforcement. Fire-fighters from Central Greece and the Peloponnese (40 people with 10 vehicles) will be transferred to the island in the morning.

Secretary General of the Civil Protection Department Patroklos Georgiadis has ordered municipal units of southern Rhodes and Lindos to be ready for emergency, following the order of the governor of the South Aegean region Ioannis Maheridis.

The fire is out of control and threatening to cause problems in the small villages south of Rhodes. One of them, Vathi is being evacuated.

The situation is being exacerbated by the bad weather and strong winds that are blowing there.

Ground forces will work through the night at all three fire fronts until they put the fire under control.

Inspectors of the Office for Combating Illegal Fires will visit all three regions in order to investigate the cause of the fires in cooperation with local investigative services of the fire brigade.

"The only good thing in this tragedy in Rhode is that the wind stopped blowing shortly after 10 p.m., allowing ground forces to move more freely and limit the front of the fire," said Maheridis.

According to initial estimates of the Forestry and Fire departments, about 30,000 acres of forest have burned since yesterday afternoon.

A total of 22 fires are raging across Greece.