A fire that broke out in the Rozena area of in the municipality of Xylokastro, Corinthia, on Sunday morning, is burning out of control due to strong winds, the dense forest, and the difficult terrain, threatening two villages.
The 112 emergency alert system was activated three times, the first of which urged residents of the Rozena area to be on alert.
Another message followed advising residents in Pyrgos, Corinthia, to evacuate towards Zacholi, while the most recent one was sent for citizens in the Elliniko area of Corinthia to evacuate towards the village of Kato Pitsa.
According to the Fire service, firefighting forces have been further reinforced, and strong winds are blowing in the area with gusts reaching up to 8 on the Beaufort scale.
Specifically, 208 firefighters are deployed, with 9 ground teams, 59 vehicles, 13 aircraft, and 6 helicopters.
Volunteers, water tankers, and heavy machinery from the Peloponnese region and the General Staff of National Defense are also assisting.
The fire started around 11:00 AM in a forested area of Xylokastro with rough terrain, making firefighting efforts challenging.
During the efforts, a fire truck was trapped in the flames and completely burned. Fortunately, the firefighters managed to escape in time.
The Minister of Citizen Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, has held an emergency coordination meeting, in order to assess the situation and organize forces for the night.
