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Burning house in Vilia: fight the flames
Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP
Greek and Romanian firefighters fought again on Monday against an uncontrolled forest and bush fire about 60 kilometers northwest of the capital Athens.
Six helicopters and five fire-fighting aircraft as well as numerous fire engines and rescue workers on the ground were in action at noon.
The civil defense ordered the evacuation of several villages, including that of Vilia, which was threatened by fire last week.
According to media reports, the first houses were already burning there.
This could also be seen in photos of the extinguishing work.
According to the Greek fire brigade, 34 forest fires broke out across the country within 24 hours from Sunday to Monday, but most of them were brought under control.
In many regions, strong winds fanned the flames.
Less than two weeks after the devastating forest fires in the north of Euboea, another fire in the south of the Greek island was also used.
According to the fire brigade, dozens of emergency services fought on Evia from early morning against a fire that broke out near the village of Fygia and that spread towards the seaside resort of Marmari.
According to the Greek news agency ANA, the authorities there prepared the evacuation with ships.
The first residents of Fygia were brought to safety in the morning.
More than 100,000 hectares of forest burned
Since the end of July, hundreds of forest fires in Greece have set fire to more than 116,000 hectares of forest, killing at least three people.
In addition to the islands of Evia and Rhodes, the Peloponnese peninsula and the forest areas north and south-east of Athens were particularly hard hit.
The Greek government blames the worst heat wave in decades caused by climate change, combined with a severe drought, for the devastating fires.
wit / dpa / AFP