x

Society

Tourists Evacuated From Elafonisos Camp As Wildfire Rages

August 11, 2019

ATHENS, Greece — A tourist camp and nearby houses on the southern Greek island of Elafonisos were evacuated Sunday for the second day in a row as a wildfire at a nearby landfill intensified because of strong winds.

Authorities had pronounced the fire “under control” Saturday night but said the flames picked back up when the wind did. Greece’s Fire Service said 121 firefighters, six airplanes and five helicopters battled the fire before it was brought back under control Sunday night.

Elafonisos, a 19 square kilometer (7 square mile) island known for its sandy beaches, has a population of about 350 but draws over 3,000 visitors daily during the summer.

Several thousand tourists left the island on scheduled ferries Sunday, a day after authorities cleared a campground for “precautionary reasons.”

Some of those trying to leave the island described the evacuation as disorganized, telling The Associated Press they hadn’t received an official warning but decided to leave out of concern for their safety.

Strong winds and high temperatures helped stoke dozens of wildfires across Greece. The Fire Service said 63 broke out between 7 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Greek authorities warned of increased wildfire danger through Tuesday, across most of southern mainland Greece, in the north Aegean islands and in part of the northeastern province of Thrace, near the Turkish border.

“This is the first time in my experience that we will be having four straight days of extreme likelihood of wildfires,” Major Gen. Spyros Varsamis, head of the firefighting service in the northern Central Macedonia region, told The Associated Press. He is a 25-year veteran of the service.

By: Demetris Nellas, Associated Press

RELATED

ATHENS - Upset over low wages and the refusal of their publishers to sign agreements for collective bargaining, Greek journalists went on a 24-hour strike on April 16, also complaining about a lack of media plurality.

Top Stories

Columnists

A pregnant woman was driving in the HOV lane near Dallas.

General News

NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.

Video

New York Greek Independence Parade Honors 1821 and Grim Anniversary for Cyprus (Vid & Pics)

NEW YORK – The New York Greek Independence Parade on Fifth Avenue, commemorating the 203rd anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821, was held in an atmosphere of emotion and pride on April 14.

CHICAGO – The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) presents the Trial of Pericles on Wednesday, April 17, 7 PM, at the Harris Theater, 205 East Randolph Street in Chicago.

NICOSIA - Cyprus - home to United Kingdom military bases where fighter jets were used to help defend Israel from an Iranian attack using missiles and drones - has stepped up security on the island amid fears the Middle East conflict could worsen.

A plot of land for sale in Tripoli, Arkadia Prefecture, 268.

ATHENS - Expecting another record year in tourism to surpass the numbers in 2023 in arrivals and revenues, Greece’s infrastructure - particularly on overwhelmed islands - isn’t adequate to deal with the demands even as more resorts keep opening.

Enter your email address to subscribe

Provide your email address to subscribe. For e.g. [email protected]

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our newsletter.