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Tuesday the 17th of September, the second day after the wildfires ripped though a small part of Zakynthos.
So far we know that the wildfires that started around 11.00a.m Sunday morning have caused catastrophe to thick pine forests in the areas of Agala and Keri. Leaving behind in its wake blackened earth which no words can describe a burnt house and a hotel with damages. Luckily, no human life was lost!
As world press get hold of the news, it seems that the situation they describe of people “Fleeing” from their hotels has also caused concern for many who do not live here. The fact is that NO ONE fled!!! Our authorities had organised a civil evacuation of people within the areas for safety precautions. NO ONE was indanger, thanks to our firefighting organisations and volunteers. Some, however, did not want to be evacuated and stayed to help firefighters. Those who stayed were owners of property and villagers who wanted to help in any way they could.
The next day.
On Monday morning the villages were visited by the Metropolitans of Zakynthos and Bishop Dodinis. The Regional Governor Rothi Kratsa, expressing her satisfaction with the civil services actions also visited the areas.
“We are pleased that our fellow citizens are safe and will begin to return to their homes. There is also great satisfaction with the actions and the mobilization shown by the entire civil protection mechanism. I would like to thank once again all involved, the Fire Brigade, the Police, the Coast Guard, Headquarters in Athens, the General Secretary. Mr. Chardalia, who is on our Island and all of our fellow citizens who worked with understanding and solidarity in order to have better day. “
First hand accounts of what happened!
The night guard at the Hotel “Keri Village gave his account of what happened during the day. “I had finished my shift, as I am a night watchman at this hotel. However around 11.a.m I was informed that there was a huge fire on the opposite side of the mountain. Our first concern was to inform the people in the rooms so that we could lead them to a safe place. So, we took people to another hotel. We stayed here to help, in any way we could. Some sparks reached the hotel. We made sure that the guests received their personal belongings. It was scary, but we had to keep calm in order to deal with the situation.”
video of the evacuation:- Click on link.
Video by HMERA newspaper, Zakynthos.
Volunteers
Accounts from Mr. Petros Paraskis a volunteer worker in the Volunteer Group “Pefkos were that of emotion and disappointment. Expressing the fact that the roads within the forest area were not cleared and therefore caused a huge problem for the fire department to reach the fire points immediately.
As he said, “We could have extinguished the fire and prevented such a major disaster. We thank everyone, all the firefighters, the aircraft, the helicopters that helped keep the front limited. We made superhuman efforts. The fire started in Lithakia and within two hours it had reached our village at such a distance to a very difficult point.
Unfortunately, the inadequacy of the authorities, the uncleared roads for five years and more, have acted to prevent the forces from getting to where they needed to be at 11.45 in the morning. We would have put out the fire because the Fire Brigade arrived and could not pass because the roads, unfortunately, have not been cleared. It is a matter for the State to see, and for the Public Prosecutor to see. Where’s the money for Civil Protection?, why aren’t they spending it in Zakynthos? I condemn this publicly, to see who the responsible are! There has been no firefighting zone in our village for many years. “
Sadly, at the end of the day all that is left is to grieve for what was lost. All the green that Zakynthos prided herself with has disappeared. Nothing will be the same anymore. Fortunately, we did not mourn victims, but unfortunately there was significant damage to property. The aftermath can only be called a huge environmental disaster…
Video.
A Video by a member of the fire department, Mr. Christos Drosopoulos flying in the department’s helicopter shows the extent of the fires. The video was taken on the day of the fires, Sunday 15th September.
https://www.facebook.com/christosdroso/videos/2411876548868044/
Today’s update.
Today at the call centre of the fire department things seem to have calmed down slightly. There are over two hundred people located at the areas. Their job is to water the perimeter to ensure that no fire is ignited again. Luckily the weather conditions are on their side.
For anyone wanting to help the people located in the areas, a call from The Volunteer Group of Zakynthos and of course Zakynthos Informer is a supply of drinking water and a coffee (an instant packet type Frappe). These can be delivered to the Fire Station in Ambelokipi, the turn off road to the airport.
Once again Zakynthos Informer wants to thank all that have helped out so far, each and every one of you! Well done Volunteers
photos:- Public Domain and Ημέρα τση Ζάκυνθος. https://www.imerazante.gr/
