The commercial programme for free medical advice from the children’s dentist unit of “The People's Doctor” visited Hydra Island from 26 Feb – 2 March 2007. Two dentists and a paediatrician invited all children from the nursery and junior school for check-ups. This took place outside the Melina Mecouri Hall where they had their own fully equipped van."The People's Doctor" website can be found at http://www.mdmgreece.gr/. Contact telephone numbers:+(30) 210 3213150, or +(30) 6948 504 756.

Fire Truck Departs27-Jul-07 - It is with great relief that we can confirm that the fires on Hydra have been extinguished. From about 13:00 all stations on the island reported no new outbreaks and the planes and helicopters ceased dropping water. During the afternoon we experienced electricity cuts and the phones and comms lines were out as well just while the repairs to damaged lines could be completed. The professional firemen and their engines have departed and Hydra has been officially declared "back to normal".

26-Jul-07 pm - The photos for this coverage were taken this afternoon and evening by Harriet Jarman who accompanied the team of firefighters stationed at Palamitha. The team's task was one of damage limitation, cutting back undergrowth, chopping trees and where possible putting out manageable fires and damping down in an attempt to protect property in the area, but as you will see from the photos the main areas of fire were just too huge to be tackled.

Ayia Matrona: At about 14:00 on 25th July26-Jul-07 - It was with some trepidation that residents of Hydra went outside this morning to see the fate of Ayia Matrona and the upper reaches of the town. Wonderfully the scene had changed from last night's inferno and you would be forgiven for thinking that yesterday was simply a nightmare. At 10am this morning the fires around Hydra Town had gone out. From Kamini looking across the valleys, Agia Matrona can clearly be seen standing and intact. Some will say it was a miracle, others good luck but personally I would say it was saved due to the brave men of the island and the pilots who spent yesterday soaking the area. But perhaps it was a combination of all three. When you look carefully you can still see smouldering patches but they are manageable, so it appears that the east side of Hydra Town and the central valley is relatively safe now that the fire has swept inland again.

25-Jul-07 - Efforts continued from first light this morning to put out the fires that continued unchecked through the night.

Between 2am and 9am the fire had travelled along the coast toward Hydra Town pushed inland and behind the natural amphitheatre by a very slight breeze from the north.

By 10am smoke was billowing over the trees on the top ridge above Ayia Matrona. Planes and helicopters flew non-stop all day from sunrise to sunset battling to douse the fires but really could only limit the damage by concentrating on the hot spots that threatened buildings.

24-Jul-07 - At about four in the afternoon fire broke out at the rubbish dump on the east side of Mandraki harbour on Hydra Island.

Temperatures in the low to mid forties with tinder dry undergrowth ensured that the fire got a firm grip but fortunately there wasn't a strong wind. Even more fortunately the fire headed in an easterly direction away from the inhabited areas of Mandraki and the main town was obviously not threatened.

27-Jul-07 - In answer to a question from a visitor on the island - Fire fighting planes and helicoptors by the nature of their purpose must fly very low, as close to the source of the fire as possible. At night time they can of course see the fires very well but they can't see the surrounding terrain, which on Hydra is very mountainous.