Igor Delovski Board

[delovski]

This year I spend my holydays in Hanioti at Kassandra peninsula in
Halkidiki, Greece from August 10 till Sunday, August 20. I had really
good time over there and I liked the place, its people and local food very
much.



On August 21, one day after I left, Hanioti was hit by devastating fire. I
was lucky to escape this tragedy, but at same time I feel really bad about
the place and all the people there.

BBC: Firefighters battle Greek blaze

"Firefighters in northern Greece are battling to control forest fires that
have been raging since Monday on the Halkidiki peninsula."



The Guardian: Thousands of tourists evacuated as forest fires ravage resorts

"Amid scenes of chaos - and apparent lack of control on the part of
authorities - an estimated 2,000 people evacuated hotels and holiday
homes to escape the fire in resort villages in the Kassandra area of the
Halkidiki peninsula."

Greek Kathimerini: Fire decimates trees, houses in Halkidiki

"At its peak, the fire spread over 25 kilometers and ravaged the village
resorts of Polichroni, Hanioti, Pefkohori, Nea Skioni and Kryopigi as thick
black smoke covered the area. The blaze forced thousands of tourists to
flee their hotels for the local beaches, where more than 1,200 people
boarded boats and coast guard vessels for safety. Others simply spent the
night on the beach."

[XNote]

Video From Liameh, added August 15, 2006

The video seems to be filmed in Hanioti.

[Guest]

Fires devastate more of Laconia and Cassandra

"Meanwhile, a brushfire in the southeastern Peloponnese appears to
have damaged the local economy as well as the environment, destroying
more than 100,000 olive trees in Laconia."

[delovski]

And this year it all went totally out of control - a total disaster!

BBC News: Fight to save Olympic birthplace



"Forest fires are burning inside ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics,
but firefighters have kept the site safe, Greek officials say."

"Fires are burning in more than half the country," fire department spokesman
Nikos Diamandis said.

"This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece."