A fire is ongoing in Sofiko, Corinth near Epidaurus, with a 112 message already having been sent to residents living in the area telling them to be on alert.
Fire breaks out in Sofiko, Corinth
The fire at Sofiko in Corinth broke out shortly before midday in a forested area in the region of Agios Vlasis. According to the latest reports from around 3.30 pm, the blaze is surging towards the villages of Dimaina and Angelokastro. The fire is uncontrolled and expanding quickly.
At present, the blaze is not threatening any residential areas, and firefighters are working to bring it under control as fast as possible. Three firefighters have sustained injuries and were subsequently taken to a hospital in Corinth. One was injured when, in the midst of tackling the blaze, he got trapped with his colleagues.
The other firefighters managed to rescue him, but he has, nevertheless, sustained injuries. He was taken by volunteers to a Corinth hospital with minor burns.
“We were on alert from the first moment because the fire is very large and is heading towards the borders of our municipality, where there are villages and crops,” the mayor of Epidaurus, Tassos Chronis, told newsit.gr.
“It is a very difficult fire. It developed into dense vegetation, mainly a forest area, with pine trees, with a very short distance between them and in a field that required the immediate intervention of the fire brigade, as well as the aerial means,” the press representative of the Vassili Fire Department pointed out while speaking to ERTNews Vathrakogiannis.
“I would like to emphasize that at the moment 19 aerial vehicles, 13 aircraft and helicopters, are operating periodically from the air, two of which are for their coordination,” it was added. “The fire, of course, has not been controlled, it is still ongoing.”
Speaking to ERT about the fire, Nikos Stavrelis, the mayor of Corinth, said:
“The fire left Sofiko and is heading towards Epidaurus. There is a front of four to five kilometers. However, wind gusts make extinguishing difficult. There is no danger for the children of the camp.”
The representative of the fire department, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, told ERT:
“The fire is burning in pine trees and has not been controlled. In several cases retarding fluid was used. The fire department is carrying out an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.”
At present, traffic has been stopped in a region of Epidaurus Avenue as a result of the fire.
According to the police, the traffic stop has been put into effect from the intersection of Loutra Orea Eleni to the intersection of Dimena. Vehicular movement is being conducted through detours and alternative routes.
There are currently 120 firefighters in the area with 32 vehicles, five groups of pedestrians, 13 aircraft, and six helicopters.
