A dead like raging forest fires in the south of Greece

A person was killed after a large forest fire in Keratea, southeast of Athens, spreads quickly, destroying houses and causing evacuation alerts.

The fire service indicates that the body of an elderly man was found inside his house in the Togani region, near where the fire began.

The fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m., local time (12:00 p.m. BST) Friday in the Manoutso region, initially burning dry grass and land.

Through Greece, more than 50 agricultural and forest fires broke out in the past 24 hours – one of the worst days for forest fires this summer.

Fanni by winds up to 8 Beaufort, with gusts reaching 9, the fire near Keratea increased quickly in size and intensity. Thick smoke and strong gusts hamper fire -fighting efforts.

The emergency messages of the 112 civil protection service were sent quickly, urging thousands of residents to leave the affected areas.

The police are in place to help evacuations and have already removed at least 10 people who had refused to leave their homes.

The authorities say that seven areas have so far been evacuated: Synterina, Dimolaki, Maliaste, Agiasma, Charvalo, Drosia and the colony of Ari, which was seriously affected, the fire sweeping from start to finish. The roads were cut while the flames crossed the fields and reached residential areas.

The mayor of Lavreotiki, Dimitris Loukas, told the public broadcaster ERT that the fire was “extremely difficult” to contain and now extends more than seven kilometers.

He said that the evacuations are underway for all residents of the affected establishments. The fire moved south of Manoutso to Drosia, entering a pine forest, with winds now pushing it to the region of Anavyssos.

The authorities warn that if it is not contained soon, it could grow even more.

A force of 190 firefighters, seven teams on the ground, 44 vehicles and the “Olympus” mobile operations center – is fighting against the flames, supported by 11 planes and seven helicopters. The oil tankers and heavy machines in the Attica region are also deployed.

The firefighters of the Czech Republic and Romania joined the effort, while the engineering units of the army provide heavy machines to help confinement.

Later Friday, another big forest fire broke out in Helidoni, in the municipality of the former Olympia, the west of Greece.

Fire managers say that the greatest danger comes from the winds carried by the wind, which trigger several points of points. High -voltage power lines cross the area and crews work urgently to prevent flames from reaching them.

Evacuation messages were sent via the 112 civil protection service to residents of Grammatikos, Lantzoi, Agios Georgios Lantzoiou, Pernari and Iraqleia in the regional unit of Ilia, advising them to go to the city of Pyrgos.

The firefighters fight against the flames in grammatikos, Lantzoi, Helidoni and Iraqleia, with strong winds causing fire dangerously near Peloper and the archaeological site of the old Olympia.

A person who had been trapped on the Helidoni football field was transported to the hospital by ambulance with serious burns in the arms.

About 80 firefighters, three teams on the ground, 25 vehicles and local authority resources are on the scene. Six planes and three helicopters help from air.

The authorities have warned that the risk of new epidemics remains severe, in particular in attic, in the Peloponnese and the west of Greece.