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Kouvaras forest fire forces evacuations near Athens
A major forest fire broke out southeast of Athens near Kouvaras in the Attica region, fueled by strong winds exceeding 70 kilometers per hour. The blaze necessitated the evacuation of the village of Agios Stylianos and caused significant damage to local businesses, including a poultry farming unit and a warehouse.
Firefighting efforts involved approximately 197 firefighters, 7 hiking teams, and 42 vehicles. The operation included international support from France and Romania, providing additional personnel and vehicles under the European mutual assistance program. Aerial support consisted of two planes and seven helicopters.
Preliminary investigations by the Fire Service suggest the fire may have been caused by sparks from low-voltage cables contacting each other due to high winds. While the situation has shown signs of improvement as crews focus on smoldering areas, authorities remain on high alert due to the extreme fire risk in the region.
Entities
112 Greece · Agios Stylianos · Ardani · Ardanis · Ardeni · Attica · DEDDIE · Dimitris Papachristou · Evangelos Tournas · Evangelos Turnas · Fire Service · Fire Service of Greece
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The prohibition applies to a 100-meter radius around a specific point in the sea.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Swimming and all maritime activities are prohibited in a specific part of the Ardanis area.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Boat traffic and anchoring of recreational vessels are banned in the restricted zone.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Old munitions were discovered in the Ardanis area of Karpathos.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ban remains in effect until further notice.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Violators of the ban face sanctions under the Public Maritime Law Code.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air in the Psatha region. www.yenikalem.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Residents of Agios Stylianos were evacuated as a precaution due to advancing fires. www.gazetebirlik.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Only 645 million euros, or 1.8%, of the 36 billion euro 'Greece 2.0' program is allocated to firefighting equipment and infrastructure. www.paron.gr · www.militaire.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] France provided 23 firefighters and 4 vehicles, while Romania provided 24 firefighters and 5 vehicles to support firefighting efforts. www.gazetebirlik.com · trafficnews.bg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Satellite data indicates wildfires have affected more than 5,700 hectares of land. www.yenikalem.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] There are 73 active forest fires across mainland Greece and its islands. www.yenikalem.com