Local authority officials, environmentalists and residents yesterday met in Ancient Olympia to discuss how to protect the fire-ravaged site against heavy floods such as those that hit Halkidiki over the weekend.

With rain forecast for many parts of the country over the next few days, authorities fear that parts of the fire-ravaged Peloponnese will not escape flooding, even if barriers are erected in time.

«In Ancient Olympia, more than 50,000 hectares have been totally razed - we will definitely have flooding in parts,» Krestena forest ranger Vassilis Giakoumis said.

Officials and residents also expressed fears that the ancient theater at Olympia, which was untouched by recent fires, would be wrecked by likely floods.

The regeneration of the Hill of Kronos, ravaged in the recent blaze, has been undertaken by the National Agricultural Research Foundation, it was revealed.

The need to press forward with the regeneration of burnt agricultural tracts was also emphasized. «We should replant cultivations immediately to reduce the risk of the soil being washed away,» Nafpaktos forest ranger Georgios Fountas said. «Every drop of rain that manages to reach the subsoil is a bonus,» he said. This measure would also be a way of providing much-needed fodder for an estimated 145,000 sheep, goats and other animals.

Experts also called for a ban on hunting in the entire region of the Peloponnese in order to protect the local fauna.

Meanwhile anti-flood works continued in fire-afflicted parts of the Peloponnese and Evia as fears of heavy rains wreaking flood damage intensified. Woodcutters were working overtime in Ileia, particularly in the devastated area of Zacharo, to cut down charred trees and build dams.

Flood fears were also high in Pieria where landslides have already occured following the destruction of large tracts of forestland.

There were reports of two fires yesterday, in Palaiocastro, Fthiotida, and on the island of Kythera. The Palaiocastro blaze

passed through villages but did not reach homes. Both fires were partially under control late last night.