Flames burn through a forest during a wildfire near Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, early Saturday. [Michael Varaklas/AP]
A wildfire in and around Porto Germeno, a coastal town on the Gulf of Corinth about 70 kilometers west of Athens, continued to rage out of control Saturday afternoon, a day after it broke out, as strong and unpredictable winds hampered firefighting efforts. The blaze was among dozens burning across Greece.
The fire front, which began Friday in the Viotia region northwest of Athens, spread in three directions on Saturday, prompting evacuation orders for the settlements of Agia Paraskevi, Kryo Pigadi and Agios Nektarios, all east of Porto Germeno. According to state broadcaster ERT, separate fire outbreaks merged, creating enormous fronts that have become increasingly difficult to contain.
Much of the region’s forested landscape on Mount Kithairon has been scorched, while a number of homes in the surrounding areas have been affected by the flames, ERT reported.
A 112 emergency alert was sent shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday to residents south of Porto Germeno, instructing those in Alepochori, Psatha, Veniza, Loumpa and Zachouli to move toward Megara, on the western outskirts of Athens, and follow authorities’ instructions.
