Heat wave creates power failures, wildfires

Power cuts across several districts in Athens, such as Kypseli and Pangrati, and wildfires in a number of areas around Greece made the impact of the heat wave even worse for Greeks on Saturday. Public Power Corporation (PPC) reported that several areas in the capital had gone off the system due to the huge increase in electricity demand for the use of air conditioning systems. Temporary power cuts were reported at Ano Kypseli, Vyronas and Pangrati as well as other neighborhoods in Athens.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, the Attica fire service had to tackle fires at Papagou, Keratea and on Mount Hymettus.

However, the most important blaze of the day was at the urban forest of Thessaloniki, Sheikh Shu, that according to sources started from a cigarette. Dozens of fire fighters were still trying to put it under control on Saturday afternoon.

Other wildfires that were put under control were reported on Crete and Rhodes. The former was at Arkalochori, near Iraklio, and the latter at Kattavia.

Πηγή: ekathimerini.com