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Large Fire Breaks Out in Achaia, Residents Evacuated

fire achaia greece
A firefighter works to contain the blaze that broke out in Achaia, Greece on Saturday. Credit: AMNA

A large fire broke out in Achaia, a region of the Peloponnese, Greece on Saturday. Residents of the forested villages of Ziria, Ano Ziria, Kamares, and Lampiri have been evacuated due to the blaze.

A portion of the National Highway running from Patra to Korinth has been closed because of the dangerous fire.

Emergency responders and paramedics have rushed to the scene to aid in the evacuation of citizens, as firefighters work to contain the blaze, which is fueled by high temperatures.

The fire in Achaia, the region where the city of Patra is located, has spread rapidly due to strong winds in the area.

As of Saturday afternoon, 25 firefights on the scene are being aided by 10 specialty vehicles to curtail the spread of the fire. There are also five planes and one helicopter dropping water on the blaze from above.

The fire razed down a number of houses and buildings in the villages of Ziria and Ano Ziria, and at least one man has been hospitalized as a result of the blaze.

Large fire broke out in Achaia on Wednesday

A large fire broke out in the agricultural and heavily-forested region of Elekistira, in the same region of Achaia, on Wednesday afternoon.

Due to the strength and rapid spread of the fire, residents of the area Souli in Achaia were evacuated.

This fire broke out after a different fire in the same region began to spread near the village of Drosia near the Erymanthos mountains, which was also evacuated.

Small blaze breaks out in Mykonos

A smaller fire broke out on Mykonos on Saturday. Firefighters quickly quelled the blaze, which threatened to damage six houses near the village Paragka.

A car, three motorcycles, and a pergola on a resident’s property all burned down in the fire.

The blaze was sparked by the high temperatures on the island that set dry plant matter alight.

Heatwave in Greece fuels fires

A heatwave currently scorching Greece could fuel wildfires throughout the country.

This is not the first brutal heatwave the country has faced this summer; however, forecasts show that temperatures are supposed to skyrocket again to over 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts Greece, reminding many of the deadly 1987 heatwave.

Earlier this week, the National Meteorological Service of Greece EMY issued an urgent announcement to bring awareness to the dangers associated with the soaring temperatures Greece will face in the coming days.

From last Tuesday onward, temperatures have been taking a gradual upward turn that won’t stop at least until next Tuesday.

This is due to the hot air masses which are traveling from north Africa to the countries of Italy and Greece and send thermometers skyrocketing in both nations.

This heatwave will be at its absolute worst from Friday, July 30, to Tuesday, August 3.

Meteorologist Klearchos Marousakis, interviewed on the Greek television channel OPEN, earlier this week said that the heatwave will be one of the worst Greece has ever seen.

“According to current data, this heatwave, at least in terms of its duration, will be reminiscent of the great heat wave of 1987,” Marousakis said.

However, he was quick to remind viewers of the significant strides that Greece and the world has made since 1987 which means that temperatures of this magnitude are no longer likely to have such tragic outcomes.

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