Fires near Athens, the Peloponnese and the island of Evia (PHOTO)

Reuters reports that Tsipras could delay the reshuffle of his cabinet, which was expected today, due to the latest developments
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Ažurirano: 17.07.2015. 13:48h

Three villages were evacuated on the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese, after they were engulfed by a large forest fire early this morning, carried by strong winds, the agencies reported, reporting that the fire also broke out in the suburbs of Athens, over which thick black smoke was billowing, and the fires also engulfed parts of the islands of Evia.

So far, there are no reports of casualties.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited the Agency for Civil Protection Operations to find out about the current situation, where he asked everyone to make maximum efforts in extinguishing the fire, reports ANA.

He also asked the head of the Greek armed forces to help put out the fire in the Kareas area on the outskirts of Athens.

Reuters reports that Tsipras could delay the reshuffle of his cabinet, which was expected today, due to the latest developments.

As reported by the agency, Greece has requested help from France and Italy in the form of additional firefighting planes.

Dozens of residents of Athens left their homes as the fire spread from the surrounding forests due to strong winds and high temperatures, and clouds of smoke rose over the Greek capital.

The fire also broke out in the eastern part of Athens, not far from the sports center of the Panathenaikos football club.

More than 80 firefighters, 18 fire trucks and three planes are fighting the fire, reports Reuters.

TAS S reports, citing the Greek fire service, that the fire broke out on Mount Imitos, ten kilometers from the center of Athens, and that houses are in danger.

The fire has engulfed one of the slopes and is burning trees and bushes, and residents are being evacuated.

Citing eyewitnesses, the Russian agency states that the area engulfed in flames is spreading towards the historic monastery of St. John, and towards the Athenian districts of Iliopoli and Karea.

"The situation is difficult," said the deputy mayor of Vironas Mihailis Karagianis, a suburb of Athens close to the area affected by the fire.

Greece has been gripped by extreme heat in recent days and the mercury in the thermometer shows between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius in the shade.

Strong winds spread the flames in the area of ​​Laconia in the Peloponnese, where coast guard boats were sent to a beach to rescue approximately a hundred people who were hiding from the flames.

A police source said one man died of burns and respiratory problems, Reuters reported.

"The situation is critical," Peloponnese Governor Patros Tatulis told state television.

In that area, the line of fire stretched for 15 kilometers and all available forces from the Peloponnese were engaged in extinguishing it.

Three villages and two children's camps were evacuated.

"It's a real hell, because there are hundreds of pockets of fire," Monemvasia Mayor Iraklis Trikilis told Sky TV.

Civil protection chief Tazos Mavropoulos said reinforcements had arrived in the area.

Mavropoulos adds that the operation is complicated by the mountainous terrain and stormy winds.

More than 120 firefighters with 50 fire trucks, nearly 30 soldiers, four planes and two helicopters are involved in extinguishing the fire, according to AP.

One of the seven firefighting planes in Laconia had to make an emergency landing, and the two pilots were not injured.

The spokesman of the fire department, Nikos Congas, warned that there could be even more damage from the fire, because the winds are too strong and they are not expected to weaken, reports AFP.

Meanwhile, a large fire broke out on the island of Evia, not far from the city of Halkida, between the areas of Pisonas and Afrati.

Firefighters from central Greece came to the aid of the local fire brigade on the spot, reports ANA, stating that the fire is spreading quickly due to the strong wind.

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