Crisis in Greece as wildfire rages near seaside town and kills two
A wildfire fanned by strong winds in a mountainous area in the central Greek region of Corinthia, has been burning worryingly close to a seaside town.
Greece is currently in crisis as wildfires continue to ravage the nation with approximately 350 firefighters, 18 water-dropping aircraft, 34 vehicles and six helicopters tackling a blaze that broke out on Sunday.
The blaze broke out near the seaside town of Xylokastro on the Peloponnese peninsula, around 75 miles west of Athens.
It is said to be the largest of 27 fires that broke out in forest and farmland areas across Greece over about 48 hours. The Corinth fire near Xylokastro is in a thick mountain forest that is not easily accessible and has been fanned by strong winds.
Authorities have found the bodies of two people, the Greek Citizen’s Protection Ministry said. Two men who are local residents were reported missing late on Sunday.
Residents of half a dozen nearby villages were also told to evacuate on Sunday, according to Reuters.
According to the “severe fire” alert, 77 square kilometres, or nearly 30 square miles, have been burned.
However, the wildfire is now said to be largely under control thanks to efforts early on Monday, the fire service said. 22 of the fires are now said to be under control.
The forests which the fire ripped through had been left tinder-dry by a warm spring and hot summer attributed to climate change, Local 10 reported.
Another wildfire near Andravida in the western Peloponnese was also brought under control on Monday, but firefighters remain on alert in the area for flare ups, the fire service reported.
Over the past few months, Greek authorities have had to tackle over 4,500 wildfires in the countryside left bone dry by a protracted drought and early summer heatwaves, in what has been considered the most dangerous fire season in two decades.
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In August, a large wildfire swept through the mountains north of Athens, destroying several homes, threatening nature reserves and killing one person. Neary 700 firefighters, 190 fire engines and 33 water-bombing aircraft fought the fire. Over 25 towns and villages were evacuated, leaving at least 78 homes uninhabitable.
That being said, authorities have said that this summer’s areas that have been burned are about 25 percent smaller in size than the annual average of the past 20 years.
Part of this may be as a result of a big investment in extra water-bombing aircraft, warning drones and other equipment, which have enabled firefighters to extinguish most blazes much faster.
