(ANSA) - ATHENS, MAY 23 - After several days of commitment, the firefighters are now on the verge of putting the first major fire of the year under control in Greece, in the protected natural habitat of Geraneia, west Athens.
No casualties were reported but a dozen houses were damaged or destroyed and experts speak of "immense ecological disaster".
"The fire is officially in recession. It's a matter of hours before it is fully under control," Fire Brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told Greek news agency ANA this morning.
More than 270 firefighters, supported by fifteen aircraft, are still deployed on the spot, assisted by the army, while the firefighters remain cautious in the face of a possible resumption of flames on the slopes of the mountains of Geraneia.
The disaster, which began Wednesday evening off the Gulf of Corinth, is "one of the most important fires of the last 20-30 years, which occurred at the beginning of the season" according to firefighters. The flames burned more than 55 km2 of pine forests. (HANDLE).