Fire in Vári-Koropí: Residents and Business Workers Battle the Flames

The fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon, June 19th, on a grassland area alongside the Vári-Koropí Avenue is currently fully ablaze and has spread further.

Firefighting forces are battling to contain it, as the fire has already reached significant proportions, putting homes and businesses at imminent risk of burning.

Residents are making superhuman efforts to protect their properties, while at the same time, business workers are moving boats away.

Strong winds are blowing in the area, making the Fire Brigade's job more difficult.

Fire in Vári-Koropí: Event Hall Burning on Estate

A serious fire has significantly damaged an event hall on an estate in Koropí, located on Iasonos Street.

Firefighters are struggling to contain the fire that started in the Koropí area, burning grassland alongside the Vári-Koropí Avenue and then spreading further.

Fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the blaze spread very fast due to strong winds that at times reached gale force.

“Where necessary, residents are being removed from their homes with the help of the police,” he said.

No injuries were immediately reported. State ERT television showed destroyed plastic boats in a yacht and speedboat parking area, while Greek media reported that several businesses and two homes had been damaged.

The fire service said more than 70 firefighters, assisted by 13 water-dropping planes and helicopters, were working to control the blaze.

The surrounding area is dotted with hundreds of scattered buildings, both homes and businesses.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Dozens of wildfires have broken out in Greece in recent days amid scorching summer temperatures, but they were extinguished before causing extensive damage. Several people were arrested and charged with accidentally starting the blazes.

Vathrakogiannis, the fire service spokesman, said Wednesday was “a very difficult day” due to the weather conditions.

“In the past few hours we’ve been constantly getting new fires — almost one every ten minutes,” he said. “Most were dealt with immediately.”

The greater Athens area has been declared at a high risk of fire Wednesday and Thursday.

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