A firefighting truck is parked at a farm, destroyed by a fire in Agios Georgia’s Feron, near the central Greek city of Volos, on July 27, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
ATHENS – Wildfires in Greece abated on Friday after burning for nearly two weeks but emergency services worked to prevent new flare-ups in the central part of the country, where people had fled massive explosions at an ammunition depot the day before.
The blazes, fanned by rising temperatures and strong winds, have killed five people, destroyed homes, farms and factories and scorched swathes of forest land since July 17.
In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos on Thursday. The blaze at the depot caused powerful explosions and the coast guard said people were forced to escape by land and sea to Volos, the regional capital.
This AFP graphic dated July 27, 2023 shows the map of Greece regarding burnt areas due to wildfires on the island of Rhodes and near the central city of Volos, since July 17.
Fighter jets stationed at a nearby military airport were moved as a precaution, a government official said.
In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos on Thursday. The blaze at the depot caused powerful explosions and the coast guard said people were forced to escape by land and sea to Volos, the regional capital
The shockwave was felt miles away, causing glass windows of several shops to shatter, locals told Reuters.
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"They've split open, they peeled off, the panels have fallen, they are split open, only metal is left, the ironwork," said Dina Angeli, a local resident in Nea Aghialos.
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Friday he had ordered an investigation into the incident.
Firefighters made a "superhuman effort" but failed to tame the rekindling blazes in the wider area of Volos and in Aghialos, fire brigade spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios said.
Dozens of firefighters worked in the area, assisted by five aircraft and a helicopter, as strong winds could cause new flare-ups, the fire brigade said.
The labor ministry urged employers in an industrial zone of Volos to suspend operations for a second day on Friday.
Civilians evacuate by boats from Nea Anchialos, near Greek mainland city of Volos, during a fire on July 27, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
On the island of Rhodes, where more than 20,000 tourists and locals fled seaside hotels and houses over the weekend, wildfires have died down after scorching about 10 percent of the island's acreage. But teams operated at several sites for an 11th day in an effort to fully tame all the fronts.
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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Greece needed to take more steps to combat the effects of climate change, stressing the need to improve fire prevention further.