A meeting with a group of meteorologists and then a meeting of the Coordinating Body, with the participation of all involved bodies, was held on Saturday by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, regarding the strong winds that will blow on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in various areas of Greece, resulting in the risk of simultaneous fires.
It is noted that today, Saturday, 71 agroforestry fires broke out across the country from 6 am to 6 pm, i.e. within just 12 hours.
According to meteorologists’ forecasts, strong winds will blow in the North Aegean, Attica, Boeotia, the Cyclades, Crete and the southeastern Peloponnese, with an intensity of 7-8 Beaufort, making the situation extremely dangerous for starting fires.
ELAS is proceeding with road blockades
The leadership of the Ministry and the Fire Brigade, representatives of EL.AS participated in the meeting of the Coordinating Body. and the Armed Forces, as well as regional governors/representatives of the Regions of Peloponnese, Attica, Crete, North and South Aegean and Central Greece.
For the above areas, it was decided that all the Civil Protection forces will be on alert level 4 (high risk of fire), which means that the Fire Brigade will be on alert, officers of the Armed Forces will carry out patrols, while they will also be on alert the teams of DEFKALIA.
For its part, EL.AS. will proceed with blocking roads leading to forested areas, where traffic will be prohibited. The Regional Units will have on hand the volunteer groups that will carry out patrols, the water tankers as well as the project machinery, in order to help if necessary to open fire zones.
The icon in Ierapetra
Firefighters continue to work on the fire that has broken out since early morning in a forest area in the area of Mavros Kolymbos in Ierapetra, Lasithi, Crete.
According to the Fire Department, the forces have been strengthened and are working on scattered outbreaks in the wider area. Specifically, 169 firefighters are operating with 12 groups of pedestrian units, 30 vehicles, while 4 helicopters are assisting from the air, one of which is for coordination.
By order of the municipality of Ierapetra, the settlement of Mavros Kolympos was evacuated, while with a message from 112 the residents of the settlements of Mavros Kolympos, Ahlia, Agia Fotia and Galini were instructed to move away and head further east towards the area of Koutsouras.
Four injured
According to radiolasithi, four people have been injured.
It is a 74-year-old resident from Mavro Kolymbo who has been treated at Venizelio Hospital with burns and breathing problems and has been intubated as a precaution.
According to the latest update from EKAB, the elderly man has several first and second degree burns on his face and legs and at the same time is facing breathing problems due to smoke inhalation.
In addition, a woman with a broken arm, as well as two firefighters with burns.
Houses burned
The flames burned several yards, at least one residence has more serious damage, there are reports of damage to a warehouse of a large company in the area, while some greenhouses have also burned.
Appeal from TOEB
The TOEB Koutsouras appeals to the farmers of the area to help the business by stopping watering the greenhouse crops, so that there is enough water to extinguish the fire.
Strong winds
According to the same source, the winds in the area remain very strong and for this reason the helicopters that have been coming and going since the morning could not operate until 3 in the afternoon, having only made a drop of water.
According to the commander of the PY Ierapetra, Mr. Kaliontzis, no further reinforcement by aerial means is expected and so if the winds do not die down, the situation will be very difficult. After 3pm the winds eased and one helicopter managed to make several drops by 5pm.
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