Fire breaks out near Ermioni, Varibombi blaze fully under control

Firefighters of Wednesday morning battled a blaze that broke out on the outskirts of the northern Peloponnese resort of Ermioni in an effort to prevent strong winds from diverting the flames toward residential areas.

Ten trucks manned by 22 firefighters, four water-dumping craft and a pedestrian unit were trying to control the blaze as it burned through tracts of oak and olive trees in Pigadia, near Ermioni.

Meanwhile, the fire service confirmed that a blaze in Varibombi, northern Athens, which broke out on Monday night and completely destroyed one home as well as several hectares of Mount Parnitha forestland, has been brought under control. A man has also been detained in connection with the blaze, which investigators believe may have been set by the suspect.

A separate fire in Dervenakia in Argolida in the northern Peloponnese that flared up on Tuesday night was also extinguished on Wednesday.