Porto Germeno wildfire: "We lived a nightmare, many houses burned down," says mayor

The coastal settlement of Porto Germeno in Greece is reeling from a devastating wildfire, with the mayor of Mandra-Eidyllia describing the event as a "nightmare." Fueled by gale-force winds reaching up to 9 Beaufort, the flames swept through residential areas, leaving a trail of destruction.

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We lived a nightmare, many houses burned down.

"Many houses unfortunately burned down," said Mayor Armodios Drikos, recounting how the fire entered the settlement due to continuous flare-ups and strong winds. Despite the significant damage, he highlighted the absence of any reported injuries or loss of life as the operation's greatest success.

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Many houses unfortunately burned down.

Authorities implemented preemptive evacuations across several settlements in the fire's path, including Prosilio, Porto Germeno, Psatha, Myrtikas, and the areas of Agia Paraskevi and Agios Nektarios. The primary focus remains on protecting human and animal lives, with evacuations also facilitating the work of firefighting forces.

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We are trying to overcome this window of very difficult weather conditions, so that aerial operations can be strengthened and we can gradually move towards controlling the fire.

Firefighters are battling extremely adverse conditions, as the powerful winds severely limit aerial operations. Ground crews are engaged in a difficult fight to contain the fire fronts until weather conditions improve, allowing for more extensive air support. Deputy Mayor Dimitris Pagonis estimated that over 150 residences have been destroyed, emphasizing the scale of the disaster.

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According to the information I received, over 150 houses have burned down, the destruction is great.