Large fires burn thousands of hectares with a heat wave of more than 40ºC

Greece continues this Monday trapped by large forest fires that are burning thousands of hectares in various parts of the country, while new fires continue to break out, fueled by temperatures exceeding 40 degrees centigrade.

The great fire in Dadia National Park, in the north of the country, continues to burn for the fifth consecutive day, and the Athens Observatory assures that in this important nature reserve, home to the last colony of black vultures in southeastern Europe, almost 2,000 hectares of forest.

According to experts who arrived in the area yesterday, it is considered inevitable that the fire has burned nests of the rare species of vulture and birds of prey that are in the park, since the flames reached the core of this virgin forest this Sunday.

[La crisis energética le gana el pulso al calor extremo: la ONU alerta de que estamos ante un “suicidio colectivo”]

A total of 320 firefighters with 68 vehicles, 2 planes and 4 helicopters They are trying to extinguish the fire, and for the first time in five days there is optimism that it can be controlled, since this morning it started to rain in the area.

Peloponnesus

Meanwhile, firefighters continue to fight the flames in the south of the country, in the region of Elis, in the Peloponnese peninsula, where yesterday shortly before noon a large fire broke out that forced the authorities to preventively evacuate 6 towns.

Firefighters worked throughout the night to prevent the fire from reaching these villages. So far no damage to houses has been reported, while today the weather conditions facilitate extinction operations, since the winds have weakened.

A total of 159 firefighters with 68 vehicles, 4 planes and 4 helicopters are deployed in the area.

Lesbos

the fire in the island of lesbosin the eastern Aegean, which burned at least two houses, two warehouses and a dwelling in the town of Vatera and forced the authorities to evacuate both this village as well as those of Vrisa and Stavros, continues to burn for the third consecutive day.

Although this Monday the flames no longer threaten populated areas, thousands of hectares have been burned by this fire, which represents a heavy blow to tourism on the islandsince the months of July and August are the ones that traditionally attract the largest number of tourists to the island.

Extinction operations continue today on Lesbos, with a total of 83 firefighters with 21 vehicles, 6 planes and 2 helicopters.

On Monday morning, another fire broke out in the Pella region, in the north of the country, where 38 firefighters were deployed with 9 ground resources and a helicopter, while three smaller fires were declared on the Chalkidiki peninsula today.

The heat wave that began to hit Greece last Friday will last, according to the National Observatory of Athens, at least until the end of this month.