Greek island ravaged by fire: Mayor calls it a 'biblical catastrophe'
11:23 AM EDT, June 30, 2024
The fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon on the Greek island of Serifos in the Aegean Sea has been brought under control. However, the counting of losses has now begun. The effects of the fire are severe, and the mayor has assessed that the island has experienced a "biblical catastrophe."
Mayor Konstantinos Revintis reported that the fire on Serifos Island is under control and the situation is currently being analyzed. The entire southwestern part of the island has been burned.
Mayor speaks of enormous destruction
Initially, only one fire truck with four firefighters, water tankers, two airplanes, and a helicopter were involved in the firefighting operation. Before 11:00 AM ET on Saturday, an additional team consisting of 22 firefighters and 11 fire trucks departed from the port of Piraeus to support the efforts on the island.
Due to the rapid spread of the fire, caused by strong winds, residents of many localities were evacuated.
On Saturday, the mayor, referring to the situation on the island, spoke of a "biblical catastrophe." "The front is 9 miles long. We are talking about enormous destruction. Burned houses, burned warehouses," he informed.
Serifos Island, which is part of the Cyclades archipelago, is permanently inhabited by just over 1,000 people.
On Saturday, about 50 fires broke out in Greece. Half of the country was placed under an elevated fire risk zone over the weekend.
