Homes burn in Greece when firefighters are washed through coastal cities

A large fire passed through the Coastal Cities of Pala Fokaya and Timari 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Athens, destroying homes and forcing evacuations as the beach approaches.

The flames erupted in low vegetation but quickly spread to residential areas as Greece tested its first heat wave in the summer.

At least 20 homes have been destroyed and many others have suffered structural damage, according to local employees.

Strong winds and rising temperatures up to 40 ° C made the fire extremely difficult to control.

The locals joined firefighters, forest rangers and planes, trying to master the fire and protect their homes. The coast guards were also located along the coastline.

Emergency signals were issued through the 112 system, urging residents to evacuate a series of cities and villages.

Greece seeks to increase its fire reaction, which is becoming increasingly common due to their long, hot summers and warming climate.

This year, an additional 18,000 firefighters, supported by volunteers, were deployed, claim that the rest of the fire season, which ended in October.

Earlier this week, thousands of hectares were burned on Chios, the fifth largest island of Greece. A Georgian woman was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of inadvertently a fire starting by launching a cigarette.

A Timari resident told the Greek website Kathimerini on Thursday that by the time she reached her home, he was burned because of the strong winds. Another said that his neighbors’ homes had been destroyed, but he had a short time.

To the east along the coast to Cape Sunion, at the top of the Attica Peninsula, the fire passed through the coastal road and moved to the ridge of the nearby hill.

Authorities said more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the affected areas. Eleven tourists were rescued from the beach after being trapped by the advanced flames, according to local authorities.

Despite the evacuation orders, some residents refused to leave and tried to protect their homes using garden hoses and other improvised means. Authorities have warned that such actions are threatening life and impeded emergency services.

According to the Greek state operator, at least 40 people, including children and adults, were rescued by police after being trapped.

Fireworker spokesman Vasilios Vatrakogianis said the firefighters were involved in an intensive battle on the earth and by air, especially in areas where the fire burned near the house.

Local officers in the villages inside Timari have identified the situation as extremely difficult.

“All the facilities of the municipality were open to anyone who needed shelter or medical care,” Babis Galanis, a local deputy mayor, told ERT.

The Greece Fire Service Head has ordered a special investigation into the scene of the scene to investigate whether the fire has been deliberately tuned.

According to a report from the Risk Assessment Committee in Greece, extremely high temperatures with a very high risk of fires in Attica, Esia, Peloponnese and the North Aegean are expected on Friday.