ATHENS — More than 4,000 hectares of pristine forest were destroyed by the fire that started on Schinos in the Loutraki area around 21:45 on Wednesday night, Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crises Management Nikos Hardalias said during a live emergency briefing on Friday.

Also destroyed were farmhouses and country houses located far from settlements, which were protected by the fire brigade as the flames passed between the houses, he added.

Hardalias stressed that the previous night had been difficult and a battle was fought to protect the Wildlife Sanctuary, a bet won by firefighters. The overall picture of the fire on Friday was much better but all the forces of the Fire Brigade were continuing the work of extinguishing the fire, he said.

Τhe situation regarding the wildfire that has been raging for two days in the Geraneia Mountains is somewhat better on Friday morning compared to the previous night, according to the latest information from the Fire Brigade. The firefighters were battling the blaze overnight, while a total of 12 fire-fighting aircraft and three helicopters took off early on Friday to assist from the air.

Α total of 278 firefighters are operating in the area, with 89 vehicles, 10 teams on foot, the fire brigade's special motorised unit, the mobile operation centre "Olympus", 12 planes and two water-dropping helicopters, as well as one fire brigade helicopter. At the same time, volunteer firefighters and construction equipment were assisting in the effort to extinguish the fire.