Porto Germeno fire destroys over 100 houses

More than 100 houses in Porto Germeno and neighboring villages have been reduced to ashes, according to preliminary reports from local residents. People returning after the evacuation found only burned-out buildings, destroyed farmland, and a landscape completely transformed by the blaze.

This is a continuation of coverage of the large-scale fires that have swept through Boeotia, Attica, and the Peloponnese.

Sultana Loukidou and her husband, Babis Rizoyannis, who own a holiday home in the area, described the dramatic hours they lived through. They were away when the main front passed and returned only to assess the damage to their property.

“We just came to see the damage to our house,” they said.

According to the couple, the surrounding area was almost completely burned. The fire destroyed the forest, olive trees, and a significant part of the residential zone.

“Everything around us burned. Forests, olive trees—everything was reduced to ashes. Part of our neighborhood survived, but everything else was destroyed.”

The village of Aspra Spitia was particularly hard hit. Residents say a large portion of the houses there were engulfed in flames. The fire tore through the residential area before leaping across to the opposite mountainside, leaving behind blackened walls, burned-out cars, and charred trees.

“Everything there turned to charcoal. The fire spread to the mountain opposite. It’s a terrifying sight.”

Many of the families who lost their homes are of modest means. They built their cottages and permanent residences gradually over decades.

“These are ordinary people who make a living by their labor. They’ve lost what they spent their entire lives building. It’s terrifying to see everything that’s happened.”

Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by strong winds, difficult terrain, and repeated flare-ups. Even with substantial equipment, rescue teams could not reach every house. Some residents who stayed near their properties tried to contain secondary fires themselves using garden hoses, buckets, and small containers of water.

“New fires kept breaking out in front of our house, and we had to put them out ourselves. We waited for the wind to die down so that the airborne forces could work more effectively.”

Such actions were extremely dangerous. A sudden shift in wind direction could cut off escape routes within minutes. Authorities repeatedly urged residents to follow emergency orders and not return to evacuated areas until official permission was granted.

Beyond the homes, the fire inflicted heavy damage on the natural environment. Residents describe the forests around Porto Germeno as one of the most important green spaces in Western Attica.

“Porto Germeno is destroyed. One of the most peaceful, perhaps the best, natural ‘lungs’ of Attica has burned down. A great pity. Nothing more to say.”

An official count of damaged and completely destroyed homes will be possible only after specialists gain safe access to all affected areas. The figure of more than 100 homes therefore remains based on residents’ accounts and initial assessments from the disaster zone.

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