Parts of Lamia evacuate, as milder winds help firefighters; Volos facing water, power shortages

Residents in the northern sections of the central Greek city of Lamia, at Fthiotis region, were ordered to evacuate their homes late afternoon Wednesday, as a fire has crossed the Lamia-Domokos road and is heading to the area of Nea Magnissia, a few miles east of the major city.

Some six farms and several homes closer to the approaching fires in Nea Magnissia have already been evacuated.

Two PZL-type water bombers and one Erickson helicopter were operating in the area, alongside strong firefighting forces on the ground.

Situation improves in Lamia late Wed. evening

By 20:00 however, wind velocity had dropped in Lamia, providing an opportunity for land and air firefighting forces to contain some of the advancing fire fronts with buffer zones made by heavy earth-moving machinery.

There are several rekindlings of fires that firefighters, police, volunteers, and city and regional staff are trying to control.

Earlier, evacuations were ordered for northern sections of Lamia. Currently a large part of the city is without power, as the fire destroyed electricity poles and transformers, and Public Power Corporation crews must wait for the fire to be extinguished.

The municipality has safe spaces and is also housing people who had to leave their homes at hotels.

The Lamia-Domokos road is currently shut down to traffic.

Water, power issues in Volos

The supply of water and electricity in the greater Volos region and in the city itself was problematic on Wednesday due to the unfolding fires, authorities reported.

Water flow in Volos city’s supply system currently falls short by 1,000 cubic meters per hour, said the city’s water supply company, as the main reservoir is out of order due to the fires, affecting both the water pressure and the actual volume of water available.

Residents of Volos, were told earlier to remain in their homes with doors and windows shut, as fires in the region have created thick smoke.

Meanwhile, power supply in the Seklo area is cut, as is at Chryssi Akti Panagias, where lack of electricity is expected to affect water supply.

In the prefecture of Magnissia, eastern central Greece, the villages of Sesklo and nearby Dimini, both between Velestino and Volos, were evacuated as a precaution late afternoon Wednesday due to a fire raging at Velestino. (The homonymous Neolithic settlements of high archaeological value are located outside modern Sesklo and Dimini.)

The residents also of Palikouri and staff at the Volos Industrial Estate (the industrial area outside the central Greek city) were all ordered via the emergency number 112 to evacuate toward Volos.

The fire in the Velestino area fire broke out at 14:30 and quickly grew due to strong winds. Firefighting forces from the city of Volos were battling the blaze, which is burning its way through low brush towards Aerino, south of Velestino. Deputy Mayor of Rigas Fereos town for civil protection Dimitris Pallikaris said some settlements in the foothills of Velestino and around it have also been evacuated to the center of Velestino.

Magnissia Region Deputy Governor Dorothea Kolindrini spoke of a difficult situation with the fires in the region, while Thessaly Region Governor Kostas Agorastos requested more firefighting forces at Volos and Magnissia overall.

Another fire broke out at 15:00 in the Krokio region at the municipality of Almiro, in the center of Magnissia, burning low vegetation.