A fire that started on Antimachia on Kos island rekindled again at a hard to reach point, and the fire is now moving toward the coast, the Fire Brigade said late on Monday.

Additional firefighters were dispatched to the island. Currently, there were 102 firefighters with 7 ground teams and 13 fire trucks, along with 6 aircraft and 2 helicopters flying during the day, trying to control it with high winds making their work harder.

A new 112 emergency message was sent to Kardamaina residents to evacuate toward Antimachia, where the fire burned in small pockets.

Earlier, Fire Brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in an emergency briefing that the situation with the fire on Kos had improved, although several fire pockets are still burning.

The fire broke out in Antimachia in the early afternoon and had been declared out of control because of strong winds spreading it toward Kardamaina, an area with hotels and other tourist accomodation, leading to an order for evacuation through the emergency number 112 .

Firefighters were sent from Athens and Rhodes, with fire trucks.

Speaking of Chios island, Vathrakogiannis said that the fire on the island is still difficult, while the fires in Distomo (Viotia), Zakynthos island, Iraklio on Crete and Aghios Elisseos (Laconia) had been almost entirely put out.

Chios serious

For the fire on Chios in particular, there were 142 firefighters on the island with 8 forest units (including 30 firefighters flown in from Athens), 21 fire trucks, 7 aircraft and 3 helicopters (one of the later coordinated operations). Additional forces were expected from Lesvos island and Athens - 66 firefighters with 12 fire trucks.

"The situation remains tough on Chios, and a lot of of effort will continue to be expended by all Civil Protection forces on the island to restrict the fire. During firefighting efforts, two firefighters were injured, thankfully lightly," Vathrakogiannis said.

A total of 52 fires broke out in the last 24 hours, he said, of which 44 were put out immediately and another 8 were still being fought by the Fire Brigade. 

Crete

Meanwhile, a new fire broke out at Katofygi in Iraklio. The brushfire led to two alerts sent out through the emergency number 112, advising residents to remain on alert for possible evacuation. The second message asked residents of Katofygi and Xeniako on Crete to head to Embarou Square.

The Fire Brigade said a total of 36 firefighters with 1 ground team, 13 fire trucks, and 2 helicopters had been involved in trying to put the fire out.
 

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