Latest news with #CostasTsigkas
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Three die in Greece as gales stoke fires, disrupt ferries
8 Aug 2025 20:24 ATHENS (REUTERS/AFP) Three people, including two Vietnamese tourists, died in Greece on Friday as ferocious winds whipped up wildfires and disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of summer holidaymakersMore than 200 firefighters backed by 11 water bombers and seven helicopters were battling a blaze in Keratea, southeast of Athens, Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told ERT state television."It's a difficult fire," he said, citing gusts of wind and reporting that several communities had been discovered the body of an elderly person inside their burned home in Keratea, and the wind was hampering water bombers' ability to operate, fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told a press AFP journalist in the nearby town of Palaia Fokaia, around 45 kilometres south of Athens, saw fire consume a house and thick smoke choke the planes, 12 helicopters and 170 firefighters were deployed around Keratea, 30 kilometres southwest of the capital, and residents were called to evacuate, the fire brigade of the area has seen barely a drop of rain in months. Wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour fanned the fire, setting olive tree orchards alight. Images on local media showed houses engulfed in flames.|Firefighters discovered the body of an elderly man in a burned-out structure in Keratea, Greek Fire Brigade Spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said during a briefing."The fire is advancing. In some places, only aerial firefighting is possible," Yiannis Schizas, a member of the Civil Protection in the area, told SKAI TV."There is too much wind. It is becoming a mess," he winds are expected through the weekend and the touristy island of Kefalonia, in western Greece, a wildfire was out of control, burning forests and farmland, authorities and local media said. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach. Parched southern France is currently facing its worst wildfire in decades.
International Business Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- International Business Times
Two Vietnamese Nationals Die at Sea Amid Strong Winds in Greece
Two Vietnamese tourists died at sea on Friday, August 8, in Greece, the coastguard said, as gale-force winds forced numerous ferries to port, causing travel disruptions for tens of thousands of summer travelers and igniting fires As firefighters fought fires near Athens and the island of Cephalonia, a coastguard spokeswoman reported that a man and woman had died at the Sarakiniko beach on the Cyclades' tourist island of Milos. "The man and woman were found unconscious in the sea and were taken to the local health centre," the spokeswoman told AFP. She added, "They were Vietnamese tourists on a cruise ship group. The woman fell in the water and the man apparently tried to save her." Wind gusts could reach 88 km/h, according to the ministry of civil protection, particularly in the Sea of Crete and the southern Aegean. Costas Tsigkas, the head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told ERT state television that more than 200 firefighters were fighting a fire in Keratea, east of Athens, with the assistance of three planes and five helicopters. "It's a difficult fire... (owing) to wind gusts," he told AFP, adding that a number of local communities had been evacuated. According to local officials, the Cephalonia fire was previously contained. After midnight, the phenomenon will become less pronounced, according to the National Weather Service's EMY. According to the coast guard, the majority of ferries, particularly those bound for the Cyclades or Dodecanese islands, were unable to leave Piraeus and other Athens ports on time. A number of scheduled ferries were postponed or cancelled. According to the statement, there will be no impact on maritime ties to the Ionian Sea and the Saronic islands of Aegina, Hydra, Poros, and Spetses, which are close to Athens. In a statement, the Athens National Observatory also cautioned that there was a "very high potential for wind-driven forest fires," especially in the country's east and south. A tree fell in one of the busiest high streets in the capital, barely missing shoppers, prompting the mayor of Athens to close the National Garden on Thursday, August 7. At this time of year, Greece frequently experiences strong winds.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Two tourists from Vietnam die at sea in Greece amid gale-force winds
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Gale-force winds in Greece confined many ferries to port, disrupting travel for tens of thousands of summer travellers. ATHENS - Two Vietnamese tourists died at sea in Greece on Aug 8, the coastguard said, as gale-force winds confined many ferries to port, disrupting tens of thousands of summer travellers, and sparked wildfires. A coastguard spokeswoman said a man and woman had died at the Sarakiniko beach on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades, as firefighters battled blazes near Athens and on the island of Cephalonia. 'The man and woman were found unconscious in the sea and were taken to the local health centre,' the spokeswoman said. 'They were Vietnamese tourists on a cruise ship group. The woman fell in the water and the man apparently tried to save her,' she said. The civil protection ministry had said wind gusts would reach 88kmh, especially in the southern Aegean and the Sea of Crete. More than 200 firefighters backed by 11 water bombers and seven helicopters were battling a fire in Keratea, southeast of Athens, Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told ERT state television. 'It's a difficult fire... (owing) to wind gusts,' he said, adding that several communities had been evacuated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Opinion Singapore must look ahead, prepare to ride next wave of change Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Singapore Non-invasive depression treatment TMS helps engineer get his life back Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar 'The fire front is seven kilometres, homes are under threat,' a local mayor, Mr Dimitris Loukas, told ERT, adding that the wind was complicating efforts to douse the blaze from the air. The Cephalonia fire was earlier placed under control, local officials said. National weather service EMY said the winds would weaken after midnight. 'Left stranded' The coastguard said most ferries were unable to depart on schedule from Piraeus and other Athens ports, especially to the Cyclades or Dodecanese islands. Several services were cancelled and others postponed. At Piraeus, hundreds of people crowded outside a ferry that was bound for the Cycladic islands of Paros and Naxos, waiting for news on a possible departure. Nearby, stranded travellers surrounded by rucksacks and suitcases formed a huge queue outside a ticket office and made desperate phone calls hoping to make rearrangements to save their journeys. 'There's huge lines, huge commotion, everyone's waiting in the sun and it's a very tough time,' said Mr Philip Elias, an American tourist. Mr Sergi Gros, a 51-year-old civil servant from Spain, said he was scrambling to find last-minute accommodation in Athens for two nights, having already lost his booking on the island of Astypalea. 'We arrived at 6.45am in the morning and they told us the ferry was cancelled,' Mr Gros told AFP, saying there was a 'total lack of information'. 'I don't think (the hotel) can be refunded because it's not their fault. It's a great shame because we booked with a big (ferry) company, and there are people who reserve months in advance... they left us stranded,' he said. Maritime connections with the Saronic islands near Athens including Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses and the Ionian Sea were unaffected, the coastguard said. Strong winds are common in Greece at this time of year, and firefighters have already faced several major blazes this summer, including on the islands of Evia and Chios and in the western Peloponnese. AFP
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Holiday carnage with thousands left stranded & two dead after gale force winds batter Greece & shut down ferries
HOLS HELL Holiday carnage with thousands left stranded & two dead after gale force winds batter Greece & shut down ferries Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS have been left stranded and two dead after gale force winds have pummelled Greece. Travel plans have been disrupted for hundreds of holidaygoers bound for the Cyclades and other Agean islands. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The raging winds have disrupted travel for tens of thousands of summer travellers Credit: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ A sailing ban has been issued until at least 1pm local time as authorities have urged travellers to seek alternative routes. Two Vietnamese tourists died at sea in Greece on Friday, the coastguard said, as gale-force winds confined many ferries to port. The raging winds have disrupted travel for tens of thousands of summer travellers, and also sparked fires. A coastguard spokeswoman said a man and woman had died at the Sarakiniko beach on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades, as firefighters battled blazes near Athens and the island of Cephalonia. Read more on World BARGAIN BREAK The often-forgotten country named world's cheapest place to travel in 2025 "The man and woman were found unconscious in the sea and were taken to the local health centre," the spokeswoman said. "They were Vietnamese tourists on a cruise ship group. The woman fell in the water and the man apparently tried to save her," she said. The civil protection ministry said wind gusts would reach 88 kilometres (54 miles) an hour, especially in the southern Aegean and the Sea of Crete. Over 200 firefighters backed by three aircraft and five helicopters were battling a fire in Keratea, east of Athens, Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told ERT state television. "It's a difficult fire...(owing) to wind gusts," he said, adding that a number of local communities had been evacuated. The Cephalonia fire was earlier placed under control, local officials said. National weather service EMY said the phenomenon would weaken after midnight. The coastguard said most ferries were unable to depart on schedule from Piraeus and other Athens ports, especially to the Cyclades or Dodecanese islands. Several planned ferries were cancelled while others were postponed. Maritime connections with the Saronic islands near Athens including Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses and the Ionian Sea are unaffected, it said. The Athens National Observatory in a statement also warned there was a "very high potential for wind-driven forest fires", particularly in the east and south of the country. The mayor of Athens had shut down the National Garden on Thursday after a tree fell in one of the capital's busiest high streets, narrowly missing shoppers. Strong winds are common in Greece at this time of year.
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Two Tourists Die, Fires Erupt In Greece Amid Gale-force Winds
Two Vietnamese tourists died at sea in Greece on Friday, the coastguard said, as gale-force winds confined many ferries to port, disrupting tens of thousands of summer travellers, and sparked wildfires. A coastguard spokeswoman said a man and woman had died at the Sarakiniko beach on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades, as firefighters battled blazes near Athens and on the island of Cephalonia. "The man and woman were found unconscious in the sea and were taken to the local health centre," the spokeswoman said. "They were Vietnamese tourists on a cruise ship group. The woman fell in the water and the man apparently tried to save her," she said. The civil protection ministry had said wind gusts would reach 88 kilometres (54 miles) an hour, especially in the southern Aegean and the Sea of Crete. More than 200 firefighters backed by 11 water bombers and seven helicopters were battling a fire in Keratea, southeast of Athens, Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told ERT state television. "It's a difficult fire... (owing) to wind gusts," he said, adding that several communities had been evacuated. "The fire front is seven kilometres, homes are under threat," a local mayor, Dimitris Loukas, told ERT, adding that the wind was complicating efforts to douse the blaze from the air. The Cephalonia fire was earlier placed under control, local officials said. National weather service EMY said the winds would weaken after midnight. The coastguard said most ferries were unable to depart on schedule from Piraeus and other Athens ports, especially to the Cyclades or Dodecanese islands. Several services were cancelled and others postponed. At Piraeus, hundreds of people crowded outside a ferry that was bound for the Cycladic islands of Paros and Naxos, waiting for news on a possible departure. Nearby, stranded travellers surrounded by rucksacks and suitcases formed a huge queue outside a ticket office and made desperate phone calls hoping to make rearrangements to save their journeys. "There's huge lines, huge commotion, everyone's waiting in the sun and it's a very tough time," said Philip Elias, an American tourist. Sergi Gros, a 51-year-old civil servant from Spain, said he was scrambling to find last-minute accommodation in Athens for two nights, having already lost his booking on the island of Astypalea. "We arrived at 6:45 in the morning and they told us the ferry was cancelled," Gros told AFP, saying there was a "total lack of information". "I don't think (the hotel) can be refunded because it's not their fault. It's a great shame because we booked with a big (ferry) company, and there are people who reserve months in advance... they left us stranded," he said. Maritime connections with the Saronic islands near Athens including Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses and the Ionian Sea were unaffected, the coastguard said. Strong winds are common in Greece at this time of year, and firefighters have already faced several major blazes this summer, including on the islands of Evia and Chios and in the western Peloponnese.
