The major fire near Olympia was contained on Thursday night – just before the flames could reach the ancient site in Greece. “The site has been saved for the time being,” said the governor of the West Greece region, Nektarios Farmakis, on state television early in the morning. However, he warned: “The danger is not over.” It is to be hoped that the fire will be brought under control with the help of helicopters and fire-fighting planes.
Fire fighters and volunteers around Olympia fought the flames all night. “We are doing everything humanly possible to save the Olympics,” said Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni on the Greek state television. Around the ancient site and stadium of Olympia, strong fire brigade and local authorities had formed a final line of defense against the flames. In the early Thursday morning, a light breeze deflected the flames away from Olympia, as reported by local reporters.
Olympia – threatened like many places in the Peloponnese
There has been a drought throughout Greece for months, and temperatures have been reaching 40 to 47 degrees for ten days. One spark can be enough to trigger large, destructive fires. “We still have difficult days ahead of us,” said the head of civil defense, Nikos Chardalias, on Wednesday evening after a crisis meeting with the fire brigade management.
Heavy fires raged on Thursday morning on the Euboea peninsula and in numerous regions of the Peloponnese peninsula. Dozens of people had to be brought to safety in boats near the town of Rovies on the Euboean coast. Numerous houses were destroyed and several villages evacuated.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
