Greece is at the mercy of large fires with the main fronts raging in North Attica, Northern Evia, Ilia and Messinia.
The situation in North Attica and Northern Evia seems out of control while many Evians compared what is happening in recent days with the historic catastrophic fire of 1977 when 280.000 acres of forest were reduced to ashes.
"TA NEA" of August 1977 covered the big fires, which as today, so then broke out simultaneously in Evia, Attica, Ilia and in many other parts of the country.
On August 22, two fires broke out in the prefecture of Ilia.
"TA NEA", 23.8.1977, Historical Archive "TO VIMA" & "TA NEA"
"The forests of Ilia are burning from two new large fires that broke out yesterday afternoon in two areas. (…) 1.30 in the afternoon in the area of Kapetaneika of Amaliada and extended in the afternoon to the area of the Koryfi Community. (…) The second fire broke out at 6 in the afternoon in the area of Panagia, Dafniotissa Community "
On August 23, the two main fronts were on Mount Parnassos and Evia.
"TA NEA", 23.8.1977, Historical Archive "TO VIMA" & "TA NEA"
"TA NEA", 23.8.1977, Historical Archive "TO VIMA" & "TA NEA" Parnassos is burning! 2/3 / of one of the most beautiful mountains of Greece and together the only spruce forest towards the side of Amfiklia became ashes. Tens of thousands of tall fir trees left black logs still smoking
Evia: A first account
Until the morning hours the losses from the huge fire:
- A nun is dead
- 1.500 charred deer and elk
- Dozens of farmhouses burned
- The firefighter Alexiou and a nun with serious burns
- Around 30.000 acres (possibly more) of fir, olive groves and shrubs have been destroyed
(...)
»At the same time on the outskirts of Evia, a hell of fire threatens the most beautiful forests of the island! The inhabitants from the villages of Strofilia, Amelanto, Strafi, Kerasia, Agia Anna, Mantoudi, as well as from Limni, Farakla, leave in front of the barks, while the bells of the villages call them to a general mobilization. The strong wind gives minimal chances for their immediate extinction.
"TA NEA", 24.8.1977, Historical Archive "TO VIMA" & "TA NEA"
"From TAIGETO to Samothrace, from Evia to Epirus and from Ilia to Olympus, Greece is burning, in places, at the moment! Specifically: Fires broke out - or spread - in Taygetos, in Samothrace, in Evia, in the mountain Morgana of Pindos, in Epirus, in Ilia, in Almyros, Volos, in Parnassos, in Mytilene, in Olympus, so that the destruction of the forest across the country, now takes on the extent of national catastrophe… (…)
"TA NEA", 24.8.1977, Historical Archive "TO VIMA" & "TA NEA"
"All forest officials stress that they do not