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Flames at Schisto Korydallos near Athens
Photo: IMAGO/Konstantinos Zilos / IMAGO/NurPhoto
Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers managed to bring three large forest fires in Greece under control on Tuesday night.
"The danger remains great," said a spokesman for the fire brigade on state television.
Firefighting aircraft and helicopters will be used to fight the fires.
Several villages near the small port town of Itea were evacuated the night before.
In the region of the small town of Amfissa, the flames destroyed numerous olive trees.
In the Peloponnese peninsula, a hotel near Kranidi was evacuated, state radio reported.
According to the meteorologists, the fires broke out because of the long-lasting drought and high temperatures and were fueled by strong winds.
In southern Europe, the likelihood of fires has increased due to climate change.
Italy is suffering from the drought
But arson is also considered to be the cause: some mayors of the affected regions told reporters that arsonists and land speculators were at work.
Extensive investigations have been initiated, state television reported.
The situation is also dramatic in Italy: the government has now declared a state of emergency in five regions of the country due to the severe drought.
The Council of Ministers met in the evening.
By the end of the year, the state of emergency will apply in Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia due to the lack of water.
These communities are hardest hit by the drought.
This makes it easier for the government to free up funds and aid to combat the effects of the drought.
Rome provided the regions with 36.5 million euros.
According to earlier media reports, Prime Minister Mario Draghi is considering appointing a commissioner to fight the drought, similar to how the government set up a special post to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
bam/dpa
