A monastery and more than a dozen villages on the Greek island of Evia were destroyed by a raging fire. At least 150 houses were burned down, one of more than 100 fires in the country.
On Thursday morning, firefighters continued to fight the fire near Athens, and the mayor of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, also asked for help when the fire threatened the scene.
The fire broke out as Greece In the midst of a heat wave.
“We are fighting the Titans!” Deputy Minister of Civil Defense Nikos Hardalias told reporters. “The hardest part is yet to come.”
Experts warn that global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of such fires.
On Ivya, a huge flame leaping from the forest can be seen from the sea. Firefighters said it was difficult to control the fire on a rolling hilly island with low visibility.
They added that the three monks of St. David’s Abbey refused to leave, but everyone had been evacuated from nearby villages.
“We were suffocated by the smoke,” one of the monks told the All Nippon Airways News Agency by phone, describing the 30 to 40 meters (100 to 130 feet) high flames surrounding the monastery.
The police told AFP that if the monks are in danger, they will force the monks to evacuate. About 85 people gathered on the beach were evacuated by five boats.
Civil defense officials said that about 100 firefighters, supported by seven helicopters and water bombers, were extinguishing the fire.
But local politicians condemned the lack of resources.
“We ask the authorities to strengthen air and ground forces so as not to endanger human lives,” the mayor of Linni, Giorgos Tsapourniotis, told the All Nippon Airways News Agency.
Mantoudiou Deputy Mayor Argyris Liaskos told Skai TV that no air support was deployed there to deal with the fire. “At least 150 houses were burned down,” he said.
According to Hadalias, Greece has faced 118 fires in the past 24 hours due to the temperature soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Evia is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Athens, where more than 500 firefighters, a dozen water bombers, and five helicopters are fighting another wildfire on the outskirts of the city.
The fire started on Tuesday in a pine forest at the foot of Mount Parnitha, one of the three mountains surrounding the Greek capital.End the black, pungent smoke over Athens And left the body of the burnt down house.
Officials said that in the suburb of Varibombo, 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Athens, more than a dozen houses were destroyed by fire, and dozens of businesses, bars and holiday accommodation were severely damaged.
But by Wednesday afternoon, the fire was under control, Hadalias said.
The Athens authorities advised residents to stay indoors and wear masks to prevent ashes and smoke.
Dozens of people contacted the emergency services department, complaining about breathing difficulties.
In Olympia, about 100 firefighters fought the fire with the assistance of three helicopters and two planes.
On Wednesday evening, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said: “All measures have been taken to protect the museum and the archaeological site where the Olympic Games started from the fire.”
Earlier, the mayor of Olympia, Giorgos Georgopoulos, had called for more air support.
The European Union’s Crisis Management Commissioner said it would help. Both Cyprus and Sweden sent two water bomb aircrafts to help extinguish the fire.
