Steph Deschamps / August 1, 2021
Twenty houses burned and eight people were injured in a large forest fire that continues on Sunday in the northwestern Peloponnese, near the city of Patras, said the Greek civil protection.
The eight slightly injured, with respiratory problems and burns, were transported to hospitals in the region, according to the same source. Five villages have been evacuated due to this major fire that broke out on Saturday in scorching temperatures, and about 20 houses have burned, according to a provisional assessment by the fire department.
This Sunday at dawn, nearly 300 firefighters, with 77 trucks, two water bombers and five helicopters were again on the front line to put out the fire. Since Saturday morning, 58 forest fires have broken out according to the fire department, most of which were quickly brought under control.
The fire also caused huge traffic jams and stranded motorists in their vehicles for hours. The main highway linking Corinth to Patras was closed to traffic on Saturday, as was the Rio-Antirio bridge linking the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland.
Greece is facing a new heat wave since Friday, with temperatures ranging between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius, according to the weather service.