Two men were arrested, as part of the spontaneous procedure by investigative officers of the Argostoli Fire Service, as being responsible for causing a fire by negligence in low vegetation within a plot of land in the settlement of Helmat in the municipality of Argostoli, Kefalonia.
For the above incident, an administrative fine was imposed in accordance with the No. 19/2020 Fire Department Order for a violation of the No. 9/2021 Fire Department Order, and the competent Prosecution Authority was informed accordingly.
Three separate fire fronts were still burning in the island of Rhodes late afternoon Monday, as firefighters tried to fight strong winds and put out rekindlings in several locations for a seventh consecutive day, said the Fire Brigade.
The fire front at Platania, near the northern part of the island, is moving fast south towards Malona village. The fire near the villages of Gennadi and Vati, in South Rhodes, is burning 3 km away from Vati village, with firefighters there struggling to the utmost to keep the flames from reaching the villages.
At least ten homes were damaged as the fire spread past Asklipio village, north of the coastal resort of Kiotari in southern Rhodes, where hotels were evacuated over the weekend. Constant rekindlings there as well have posed a problem for firefighters.
In addition, rekindling is an issue at Laerma, a village at the center of the island that has suffered serious damage. Firefighters have to deal with fire at the village and fronts around it.
On the island, high winds registering 7 on the Beaufort scale are of great concern in the spreading of the fire on all fronts, the Fire Brigade noted.
Karystos, Evia
Firefighting efforts continue in the southern Evia region of Karystos, Regional Deputy Director of Evia Giorgos Kelaiditis told Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) on Monday afternoon, as rekindling of fires is constant due to strong winds.
"The situation is a nightmare for the villages of Platanistos and Potami, because the fire has reached courtyards on the outskirts of the villages, burned farm facilities, and the winds continue pushing flames into residential areas," Kelaiditis said.
Winds registered in the area since noon have climbed in velocity to over 6 and 7 on the Beaufort scale.
Problems are also seen at Livadi, Deputy Mayor of Karystos for Civil Protection Dimitris Xipolitos said, while he added that at Platanistos a Canadair airplane doused the fire and prevented it from spreading from the courtyards of homes.
The Agii and Platanistos areas - which are full of olive trees, pine trees, and low brush - have been evacuated and residents notified by the 112 emergency text messaging service to head toward Karystos proper.
Xipolitos said the fire front is over 5 km long and heading toward Livadi, Kastri, and Platy Gialo. "At this point, we have proceeded to partial evacuation of settlements and the rest of residents are on alert to leave if flames spread," he said.
Fires total
Some 63 wildfires broke out in Greece in the last 24 hours, most of which were put out during their initial stages, said the Fire Brigade on Monday night.
Concerning the country's major ongoing fires - at the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia, and also near the village of Dervenaki at Achia prefecture, northern Peloponnese - the Fire Brigade said that multiple rekindlings have occured in all these locations.
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