Firefighters in Greece are currently battling a rekindled wildfire, leading to new evacuations as authorities prepare for continued extreme weather conditions, resulting in scorching temperatures across southern Europe.
Initially, the authorities had declared the wildfire contained, but on Thursday, firefighters lost control as the winds picked up strength, leading to the reignition of fires.
A reporter said
“It’s day four of these wildfires; they had contained the flames, and then as the afternoon progressed, the wind picked up again, and that’s when the reigniting of fires happened.”
The extensive fire has already consumed approximately 35 square kilometers (13.5 square miles) of forest and scrubland.
During a news briefing on Thursday afternoon, Fire Service spokesman Yiannis Artopoios revealed that there were a total of 62 forest fires across Greece within the last 24 hours. He also highlighted the dynamic nature of the fire fronts due to the extreme weather conditions, leading to evacuation orders for multiple areas in West Attica.
Residents in affected areas struggled to save their homes despite evacuation orders. One resident, Chrysoula Renieri, 72, shared how relatives assisted her in attempting to protect the family home near Loutraki, a resort town west of Athens. However, the wildfire cut off the water supply, resulting in significant damage to their property.
Moreover, a state of emergency was declared on the island of Rhodes due to another major blaze, which also led to evacuation orders for mountain areas. Additionally, a significant fire was burning in Laconia, southeastern Peloponnese Peninsula.
