Greece Battles Wildfires for Second Day on Kos, Chios, and Crete - Thousands of Tourists Evacuated
In Greece, three fires that started on Monday in different parts of the Aegean Sea continued until Tuesday morning and showed signs of improvement after significant resources were deployed to fight them, the Ekathimerini reports.
On the island of Kos, in the east, a forest fire broke out in Antimachia in the early afternoon and was declared uncontrollable as strong winds spread it towards Kardamaia, a popular tourist resort on the east coast of the island.
Around 10,000 tourists and residents were evacuated from the area and taken to schools, sports stadiums and hotels in Antimahia, Mastihar and Marmaris. Firefighters extinguished the flames before they could reach residential areas.
Additional firefighting and transport forces were sent from Athens and Rhodes to help local forces bring the fire under some control by Tuesday morning.
A second large-scale fire broke out in Chios in Sidironda, located in the north-west of the island and known for its beautiful medieval village, which fortunately managed to remain unharmed.
Additional firefighting forces were sent from Lesvos and Athens to support local efforts.
Here, by Tuesday morning, the fire was confined to the forested part of the island and away from residential areas.
Five firefighters were injured, though fortunately only slightly.
Authorities also arrested a 63-year-old man for accidentally starting the fire and fined him almost €9,000. He will also be prosecuted for arson.
The third wildfire was in Crete, in Vianos, on the southern coast of Heraklion, and it was still burning on Tuesday, although it was confined to a gorge that helped contain its spread.
Authorities on the island evacuated the village of Katofigi as a precautionary measure, while help was sent from other parts of the island to fight the fire.
Last summer, wildfires in Greece on the island of Rhodes disrupted the tourist season there and forced thousands of tourists to evacuate, who this year are being offered free holidays by the Greek government.
