Porto Germeno: waters clean after the fire

The beaches at Porto Germeno, Psatha and Alepochori were found fully suitable for swimming, following analyses of seawater samples carried out by the Municipality of Mandra-Eidyllia. Sampling was carried out on 13 August 2026, that is, a few days after the major wildfire that hit the wider area. The check was prompted by questions from residents and visitors about the possibility that combustion residue and materials used in firefighting had ended up in the sea, especially at points where the fire came close to the shoreline. The announcement was formulated as a response to questions that had been raised with the municipality in the preceding days.

The concern was not unfounded. After wildfires in coastal zones, ash and burnt material are often carried into the sea by wind or the first rain, while the retardant liquids dropped by aircraft contain salts and additives. The analyses municipalities request in such cases usually focus on microbiological quality and basic physicochemical parameters of the water. The municipality did not release the individual measurement values or the laboratory that carried them out, details that usually accompany the publication of bathing-water results. The microbiological quality of bathing waters is also monitored nationally through the Ministry of Environment’s programme, with sampling at regular intervals during the bathing season.

The area has been seriously burdened recently. Beyond the destruction of the forest itself, the Villia–Psatha road had remained closed after a fatal accident and reopened only on 14 August, as TodayGrid reported in “Villia–Psatha: road reopens after the accident”. At the same time, fire-affected residents of Mandra are submitting applications to the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organisation (ELGA) until 20 August for damage to crops and livestock. Residents of the area had also expressed concern over the impact on air quality during the days of the fire.

The result of the measurements has direct practical significance for the local economy, as the three beaches are the municipality’s main draw for visitors during the summer months, with the second half of August bringing the highest footfall. The municipality did not announce a programme of repeat sampling, which would be of particular interest after the first autumn rains, when the greatest transfer of material from the burnt area toward the sea is expected. More from the area on the Mandra-Eidyllia page. Restoring the burnt area, with anti-erosion works and soil-retention projects, is the next major issue for western Attica before the rainy season begins.