Greece travel warning update as hundreds try to contain situation
By Neil Shaw, Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)
Two people have died, and one person has been referred to authorities for investigation after a deadly forest fire in southern Greece. Hundreds of firefighters, along with waterbombing planes and volunteers, have made significant progress in containing the blaze that has been burning for four days, according to authorities.
The fire, which killed two local residents on Sunday, is now receding, with firefighting forces focusing on extinguishing scattered smaller fires within the affected area. Satellite maps released by Greece’s weather service show that the blaze impacted around 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) of rugged, mountainous terrain in the Corinthia area of the Peloponnese region.
The fire service indicated that a local beekeeper is suspected of accidentally starting the fire while smoking out hives to harvest honey, despite warnings about the high wildfire risk. The beekeeper has been fined, and the case has been forwarded to judicial authorities. Currently, 570 firefighters, 160 fire trucks, and 11 aircraft, including three from Italy and Croatia, are working on the operation after Greece requested assistance from other European Union members.
Evacuations were ordered for more than half a dozen villages between Sunday and Tuesday, although firefighters successfully prevented the flames from reaching them. Some outlying buildings have been damaged, and a historic church in the area was gutted by the fire.
Greece, like other southern European countries, faces devastating forest fires every summer. This year, a combination of climate change-related drought, high spring temperatures, and summer heatwaves has resulted in a record number of over 4,500 wildfires. Many of these fires occurred outside the typical three-month summer period for such events.
In a separate incident, the fire service reported another forest fire breaking out in the mountainous Kalavryta area west of Corinthia in the Peloponnese. Over 40 firefighters and four aircraft are currently tackling this blaze.
The UK’s Foreign Office has issued a travel warning to holidaymakers regarding the risk of wildfires in Greece and advises checking with local authorities before travelling. Travellers are urged to contact their travel company to ensure that arrangements have not been affected by the ongoing fire situation.
The situation remains under constant monitoring as efforts continue to fully contain the wildfires and safeguard the affected areas. The Greek authorities are encouraging vigilance and cooperation from the public to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike.