The next few hours are critical in the battle against the wildfire in Chios. The Mayor of Chios Municipality Yannis Malafis, stressed that “we continue to battle the wildfire. We cannot talk about a lull in the front. Things are still difficult.
"As of Tuesday afternoon, efforts were focused on the area from Agios Georgios to Vessa–Lithi. The goal, with the support of strong ground forces as well as aircraft and helicopters, was to contain the outbreaks and bring the fire under control. So far, it has burned more than 65,000 acres.
After 1 pm, the largest front was in the Agios Georgios area of Kampi, while by 5 pm, firefighting forces were operating in the Fa section toward Avgonima and responding to rekindled outbreaks in the Vessa–Lithi area.
In Lithi, the situation was described as dramatic earlier in the day by community president Nektarios Kavakakis. He said the fire reached the coastal settlement, forcing tourists to evacuate a hotel in the area. “There is also damage in Lithi to mastic crops, while two detached houses above the beach burned,” he noted.