For some time now the site behind the small church of Agia Triada on the road between Kolymbari and Afrata, which for many years functioned as a quarry, has been in use as an unofficial rubbish dump. A month ago large quantities of waste were being deposited on an almost daily basis, with cars, pick-ups and even a large truck observed from the road above dropping off materials.
Apart from being an eyesore visible to tourists walking the scenic route up from Kolymbari, the site is clearly an environmental hazard, possibly containing dangerous chemicals which could run off into the sea during the winter rains, and representing a pollution hazard if it should catch fire. We reported the issue to the Municipality of Platanias and received a quick response giving a case number and the name of a responsible staff member but cannot not say whether any action has been taken, although there has been less evidence recently of vehicles dumping waste materials.
The issue has now made the pages of the Haniotika Nea, since the site caught fire yesterday and burned for five hours. As the paper reports: “Readers have told Haniotika Nea [that] unknown people have thrown rubble, mattresses, furniture, tyres and materials which are dangerous when burned. At the Municipality of Platanias, they say that the dump is illegal and was started prior to the closure of two other similar sites, adjoining the VOAK between Skoutelonas and Minothiana and at Kalydonia. They also say that there are organisations which manage the disposal of building materials while for bulky waste (furniture, mattresses, etc) there is a licensed area at Patellari, which is free.”
The fire at Agia Triada on 5th December 2023 is reported as having burned for 5 hours, which suggests that it was left to burn itself out. Photos: Yuval Hasson (left), Haniotika Nea.
The report ends with an appeal for greater environmental responsibility among the public. The problem of uncontrolled dumping remains a chronic one in Crete, since official disposal sites are limited and poorly publicised. It is clear from changes to the local landscape that progress is being made, but rather like tax evasion, the longstanding habit of dumping rubbish in the nearest available ravine is hard to eradicate.
Fire in the hills behind Afrata
Another fire broke out at about 5.30 on Saturday afternoon on the ridge between Afrata and Rodopou. According to media reports, 5 fire engines with 12 personnel were dispatched from Chania and Kissamos, bringing the fire under control after 7 stremmata of scrub had been burned. The fire was visible as far away as Chania, and also in Afrata, where flames and smoke appeared above the ridge behind the village, but did not spread downwards on the eastern side.