The Telegraph published this video item, entitled “Greece wildfires: Islanders defy evacuation orders to defend their homes from raging blaze” – below is their description.
As Greece’s Evia island faced another difficult night from fires raging through the north, residents of one village refused to adhere to the call by authorities to evacuate.
Winds picked up speed as night fell, causing new flare-ups near villages such as Avgaria, with a population of some 60 residents, who have been on continuous night patrols to keep fires encircling the village away from their properties.
“The police came, they told us to evacuate the village, but unfortunately we cannot evacuate because this is our property, and we have the impression that if we leave our homes will be burned,” said 55-year-old Ioannis Aggelopoulos, who has mounted a makeshift fire hose pump on the back of his truck. “We haven’t slept in three days, we have been sleeping in shifts.”
“There is no way we will leave the village, because I believe I can help in some way,” said 59-year-old Ioanna Metaksioti. “We are very afraid, but we have to stay.”
Late on Monday fires had flared up around six villages, including Avgaria, police said, where flames threatened the village and an evacuation was ordered.
More than 600 firefighters were tackling the blaze on the island, which erupted a week ago, including foreign forces from Europe and the Balkans. Athens National Observatory said at least 65,000 hectares of land have been burned in fires in Greece, with some 46,000 hectares in Evia alone.
Scores have been evacuated by ferry from the island.
Read more here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/08/08/british-firefighters-prepare-battle-apocalyptic-blazes-greek/
On Monday Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for any failures in tackling the fires, promising to correct mistakes and pledging compensation to those that lost property, after criticism from some residents about a lack of fire-fighters and resources.
Subscribe to The Telegraph on YouTube ► https://bit.ly/3idrdLH
Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK’s best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
#Greece #Evia #Wildfires
The Telegraph YouTube Channel
Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.
