A major fire broke out at around 3:45 on Friday morning in the Faraklo forested area in Laconia, which is on the mountain above Neapoli and is threatening a nearby residential area. A Canadair water bomber was forced to land near the Faraklo village due to the strong winds. One of the two pilots was lightly injured.
Fire fighters are facing adverse weather conditions as strong winds have fueled the flames which have burned through a forested area with low vegetation and has caused damaged to a number of houses. The fire is reportedly within 300 meters of a local cemetery, with fire fighters struggling to prevent the flames from encircling the residential areas.
The Mayor of Monemvasia Iraklis Tricheilis ordered the evacuation of the villages Lachi and Faraklo, as well as two summer camps near Lachi, fearing that the fire may grow even more. The health center in Neapoli ha also been evacuated. while authorities are trying to evacuate about 800 people who were trapped on the Agios Nikolaos beach.
Meanwhile the Fire Brigade has committed 120 fire fighters, 50 vehicles, four aircraft, a helicopter, municipal services and volunteers to the fight. Two more aircraft from Thessaloniki and a Super Puma helicopter from Athens carrying a 10-man Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK) are expected to join the fight.
The Mayor of Monemvasia told the Athens Macedonia News Agency that the strong winds and remoteness of the fire have made the Fire Brigade’s work rather difficult.
Missing 58-year-old man found dead
A 58-year-old Greek man residing in Belgium, who was reported missing near Lachi, has been found dead. The chief of he national health operations center noted that the 58-year-old died as a result of a stress-related stroke, rather than the fire itself.
