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Oinoi Residents Brace for Wildfire Nightmare as Flames Approach Homes
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Oinoi Residents Brace for Wildfire Nightmare as Flames Approach Homes

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Residents of Oinoi, Greece, are on high alert as a wildfire approaches their homes, recalling past experiences with flames.
  • Firefighting efforts have intensified, with 140 firefighters, ground teams, volunteers, aircraft, and helicopters battling the blaze under difficult conditions.
  • The fire has caused traffic disruptions in Mandra and led to the suspension of train services between Aspropyrgos and Ano Liosia.

Residents of Oinoi, Greece, are living in a state of heightened alert, haunted by the memory of past wildfires. "We are ready to leave at any moment," said an elderly resident, recounting how village officials advised them to pack their belongings. "We have lived through the nightmare of flames before," she added, expressing the pervasive anxiety among locals as the fire edged dangerously close to their homes.

Firefighting forces have been significantly bolstered to combat the blaze in Sfaka, near Oinoi in Attica. Initially, 82 firefighters with four ground teams were engaged, but this number grew to 140 firefighters with six ground teams, volunteers, and 34 vehicles. Aerial support includes eight aircraft and four helicopters, with one dedicated to coordination. The Attica Region's water tankers and machinery are also assisting, alongside a drone team from the Fire Service. The mobile operations center OLYMPOS has been deployed for on-site coordination.

We are ready to leave at any moment. The village president came and told us to have our things ready to leave.

— An elderly residentDescribing the immediate impact of the wildfire threat on residents.

The primary objective is to halt the fire's advance before it reaches populated areas or escalates further. Firefighters are battling challenging conditions, with wind and high temperatures hindering their efforts. The situation has prompted traffic diversions in Mandra, with police closing sections of the old Athens-Thebes national road and the Mandra roundabout. Additionally, the fire's proximity to the railway line has disrupted train services, with the section between Aspropyrgos and Ano Liosia closed since 2:30 PM local time, and power cut in the Loutropyrgos-Ano Liosia section since 3:12 PM.

We have lived through the nightmare of flames before.

— An elderly residentExpressing the fear and recurring nature of wildfires in the region.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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