Thousands of hectares razed by Evia wildfire

Firefighters managed on Tuesday to bring under control a large blaze that had raged in the northern part of the island of Evia for three days, but local authorities feared the damage would harm farmers and upset tourism in the area.

Initial estimates of the damage wreaked by the fire, which broke out close to the seaside village of Limni on Saturday, put losses at around 3,000 hectares of land.

The deputy regional governor for tourism, Yiannis Kotzias, told Kathimerini that the damage has not only hit farmers but other local businesses and the local economy as a whole.

“It’s the beginning of August and this unexpected ecological disaster is likely to negatively effect tourism,” Kotzias said.

Responding to a wave of hotel cancellations that followed news of the fire, the deputy regional governor appealed to tourists not to change their plans.

“Holidaymakers cannot see the burned areas from the places where they will swim, walk and enjoy themselves,” he said.