Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-25

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Ôrade deficit down in Jan-Apr

[02] Wildfire near Athens

[01] Ôrade deficit down in Jan-Apr

The statistical service, in a report, said the trade deficit rose 6.5 pct to 2.793 billion euros in April 2008, from 2.624 billion in April 2007. NSS said the value of import-arrivals totaled 16.532 billion euros in the January-April period, down from 17.286 billion euros last year, a decline of 4.4 pct, while the value of export-deliveries totaled 5.39 billion euros, from 5.650 billion euros in 2007, for a decline of 4.6 percent.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of the port of Piraeus, Greece's largest.

[02] Wildfire near Athens

The fire had quickly up the mountain's eastern slope, burning forest and covering surrounding areas in smoke, while also causing power outages in parts of central Athens and several suburbs as two local Public Power Corporation (PPC) stations' emergency systems kicked into force, shutting them down and cutting off electricity supply.

The fire began in the area of Glyka Nera, also the scene of a forest fire earlier this year, and was burning its way through one of the last remaining pine forests of the area.

According to reports, the fire had split into two fronts, one heading toward the ridge of the mountain toward the plush and well-populated east Athens suburbs of Papagou and and Holargos and the other toward the town of Paiania, northeast of Athens, with the latest reports placing the flames near the region of Aghios Andreas in Paiania. Neither blaze had so far approached inhabited areas, however.

A strong firefighting force, assisted by firefighting aircraft, was battling the blaze and the fire brigade was confident that they would be able to bring the fire under control if the strong north-northeasterly winds measuring 5.6 Beaufort die down.

Nine water-bombing aircraft, three helicopters, 90 firemen, 30 fire engines and a 26-man team on foot have been deployed so far. Another eight aircraft and three helicopters stationed at Andravida are also on their way to assist the fire-fighting effort.

In addition to the fire on Mount Hymettus, the fire brigade also successfully put out another fire in Agios Stefanos and responded to reports of two fires on Aigina and Attica Wood that proved to be hoaxes.

Because of the risk to Attica from the fire on Mount Hymettus, the fire brigade headquarters has decided to transfer reinforcements to the capital from central Greece, the Peloponnese and western Greece.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo

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