Firefighters and volunteers made superhuman efforts to save lives

Corfu residents spent some anxious hours during the “Ballos” storm on Thursday afternoon.
 
Even today that the weather became better and the water level has dropped, people in Moraitika, Mesoggi and Potamos were seeking help to remove the water from their homes and businesses.
 
Since Thursday evening, hundreds of households were trying to collect water with buckets and mops. There had been strong complaints by people who saw their properties destroyed. However, saving human life was the top priority.
 
Fire Chief Nikos Roumeliotis described to Enimerosi the agonising moments and the superhuman efforts made to save trapped citizens and tourists. They were using every means available – boats or even carrying elderly people and children in their arms. They were all very frightened, but they were eventually saved and taken to safety. 
 
Volunteer rescuers of the Search & Rescue Teams, who rushed into action from the very first moment, proved to be of great assistance.
 
According to a statement from the Fire Service, until the early hours of Friday morning, the Ionian Islands Region had received 490 calls to remove water from homes and businesses and managed to rescue 60 citizens who were taken to safety. Five fire engines, a crawler vehicle, two rescue boats and a Special Crisis Response Unit (EMAK) team, as well as a Super Puma helicopter, were all available to offer help.