An elderly man has tragically died in a southern Greece wildfire that forced mass evacuations and destroyed homes, as authorities grapple with multiple fire outbreaks fueled by strong winds.
**Tragic Wildfires Claim Life in Southern Greece Amid Ongoing Battle Against Blaze**
**Tragic Wildfires Claim Life in Southern Greece Amid Ongoing Battle Against Blaze**
Wildfires in Greece intensify, prompting evacuations and overwhelming firefighting efforts as extreme weather conditions persist.
In a devastating turn of events, a large wildfire in Keratea, southeast of Athens, has left one person dead following rapid spread that prompted extensive evacuation measures. Local fire services discovered the body of an elderly man in his home in Togani, near the origin of the blaze, which ignited shortly after 14:00 local time on Friday. The flames initially consumed dry grass but swiftly expanded, leading to one of Greece’s most severe wildfire days of the summer with over 50 fires reported nationwide in just 24 hours, fueled by winds peaking at 9 Beaufort.
The Greek civil protection service initiated rapid emergency alerts, urging thousands of residents to evacuate from affected areas. Despite these warnings, authorities had to resort to police intervention to forcefully evacuate at least 10 individuals from their homes. Currently, seven areas, including Synterina and Drosia, have been evacuated, with the fire rapidly engulfing residential regions and cutting off major roads.
Mayor of Lavreotiki, Dimitris Loukas, described the situation as "extremely difficult," noting that the fire has extended over seven kilometers and continues to threaten more settlements, pushing towards the Anavyssos area. An extensive firefighting force of 190 firefighters, supported by ground teams and numerous aircraft, is involved in efforts to control the situation, with additional support from fire crews from the Czech Republic and Romania, alongside army engineering units providing necessary heavy machinery.
In parallel, another wildfire ignited in Helidoni, located within the municipality of Ancient Olympia, escalating concerns as embers from the original blaze expand the threat. Evacuation messages were sent to multiple towns in the Itsiliva regional unit, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as fire crews combat the flames dangerously approaching significant sites like the archaeological area of Ancient Olympia.
A person trapped at the Helidoni football ground has been hospitalized with severe burns, reflecting the severe impact of the ongoing crisis. Fire officials remain vigilant, warning of continued risks for further outbreaks across regions like Attica and the Peloponnese, as winds fuel the ongoing fires throughout Greece.
The Greek civil protection service initiated rapid emergency alerts, urging thousands of residents to evacuate from affected areas. Despite these warnings, authorities had to resort to police intervention to forcefully evacuate at least 10 individuals from their homes. Currently, seven areas, including Synterina and Drosia, have been evacuated, with the fire rapidly engulfing residential regions and cutting off major roads.
Mayor of Lavreotiki, Dimitris Loukas, described the situation as "extremely difficult," noting that the fire has extended over seven kilometers and continues to threaten more settlements, pushing towards the Anavyssos area. An extensive firefighting force of 190 firefighters, supported by ground teams and numerous aircraft, is involved in efforts to control the situation, with additional support from fire crews from the Czech Republic and Romania, alongside army engineering units providing necessary heavy machinery.
In parallel, another wildfire ignited in Helidoni, located within the municipality of Ancient Olympia, escalating concerns as embers from the original blaze expand the threat. Evacuation messages were sent to multiple towns in the Itsiliva regional unit, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as fire crews combat the flames dangerously approaching significant sites like the archaeological area of Ancient Olympia.
A person trapped at the Helidoni football ground has been hospitalized with severe burns, reflecting the severe impact of the ongoing crisis. Fire officials remain vigilant, warning of continued risks for further outbreaks across regions like Attica and the Peloponnese, as winds fuel the ongoing fires throughout Greece.
