A major fire in neighborhood no. 1 of Himara, near the bypass area, brought a night of panic for residents and vacationers, with flames spreading rapidly and affecting several homes. According to local authorities, six homes have so far been reported completely burned, while the situation on the ground remains serious.
The flames spread rapidly during the night
The fire broke out on Friday evening in the territory of the Municipality of Himara. Strong winds favored the spread of the flames, putting pressure on the surrounding area and nearby homes.
Residents of the area described a difficult night, marked by forced movements toward safer places. Several people and tourists left the homes and structures where they were staying as the flames advanced rapidly.
Authorities report 6 homes burned
According to information made public by the Prefecture and Civil Protection structures, six homes have so far been completely burned. Of these, three were inhabited and three were uninhabited.
Around 02:00, according to reports from the ground, another home was engulfed by the flames, adding to the panic among families in the area. Up to this point, according to preliminary information, no injuries have been reported.
Businesses and residents say they were caught unprepared
Tourism operators and business owners in the area say the fire caught them unprepared. In an area with a high presence of visitors, the rapid spread of the flames raised serious concerns for the safety of residents and vacationers.
The damage is reported to be considerable, while a difficult situation developed on the ground for families who spent the night hours under the threat of the fire advancing.
Aerial intervention begins, situation remains problematic
This morning, aerial intervention also began, with helicopters dropping water on active fire hotspots. On the ground, the Armed Forces remain engaged, together with firefighting forces that arrived from different cities across the country.
Despite the engagement on the ground and from the air, the fire is still not considered neutralized. The official version speaks of efforts to contain the spread of the flames and protect other homes in the territory of the Municipality of Himara.
The preliminary toll points to heavy material damage and a situation that has tested the response of emergency structures in a sensitive tourist area.
In the absence of a final toll, it remains clear that the nighttime hours in Himara have left serious consequences for residents and businesses in the area.