Guwahati News Desk: At least 150 houses got destroyed by a violent blaze that surrounded Saint David Monastery and a dozen villages, on the Greek island of Evia on Wednesday.
The blaze started on Tuesday in a pine forest at the foot of Mount Parnitha, one of three ranges that surround the Greek capital, but ended up sending plumes of dark, acrid smoke over Athens and leaving carcasses of burnt-out houses in its wake.
As per the sources, the blaze was just one among the ongoing 40 fires raging in the heatwave-hit country.
The firefighters stated that, there were three monks from Saint David Monastery who had refused to leave, adding that everyone else had been evacuated from the villages nearby.
Among the three monks one informed that, “The flames are 30 to 40 metres (100 to 130 feet) high and surrounding the monastery. We’re suffocating due to the smoke.”
The police were ready to force the monks to evacuate if their life was in danger.
Meanwhile, several firefighters were also seen battling a blaze near Athens.
The authorities in Athens recommended the residents to stay indoors and to wear their masks to protect themselves against the ash and smoke.
Meanwhile, in Olympia, around 100 firefighters were battling the blaze and were aided by three helicopters and two planes.
The mayor of Olympia, Giorgos Georgopoulos, called for back-up on television saying, “We need more aerial support.”
Eventually, two water-bombing planes were sent by Cyprus and Sweden to help battle the fires, after the plea by the Olympian mayor got broadcasted.
However, it was on Wednesday afternoon when the terrifying flames came under some control.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Turkey is also suffering its worst fires in at least a decade.
Furthermore, experts have warned that global warming is increasing both the frequency and intensity of such fires.
Photo | AP Photo