Wildfire rages on Greek island of Evia, smoke reaches Athens
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
ATHENS (Reuters) - A wildfire fanned by strong winds razed tracts of pine forest on the Greek island of Evia on Tuesday, leading to villages being evacuated and to an appeal from the authorities for assistance from its European partners.
A state of emergency has been declared in central Evia as more than 227 firemen, supported by six helicopters and six other aircraft, battle the blaze.
Croatia and Italy were expected to send help after an appeal for airborne firefighting equipment from Greek authorities.
Flames rise in front of firefighters as a wildfire burns near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
The four villages on the island were being evacuated protectively, a fire brigade official said.
The blaze on Evia, Greece's second-largest island, generated thick smoke that reached the capital, Athens, some 110 kilometers (70 miles) away to the west. By some accounts, the wall of flames was 11 kilometers long, fanned by strong, interchanging winds.
Wildfires raged in at least four other regions, and the fire brigade said it had been called to put out 182 fires in the last three days.
A volunteer firefighter tries to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis interrupted his holiday on Crete to return to Athens where he was briefed on the situation.
"The conditions today are exceptionally difficult, and the primary concern of the state is and will be the protection of lives and by extension of property," Mitsotakis said.
TV showed thick, dark smoke blanketing the area, with ash falling kilometers away, blown by strong winds. No fatalities had been reported, and the winds were expected to subside in the evening.
A volunteer firefighter tries to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
A local mayor told state TV ERT the wildfire had reached the gardens of some houses in the village of Kontodespoti.
Greece often faces wildfires during its dry summer months, and authorities have warned of the high risk of blazes this week. Environmental campaigners see an increasing number of wildfires around the world as a symptom of global warming.
A horrific blaze that swept through the seaside town of Mati near Athens in July 2018 killed 102 people in a matter of hours.
A firefighter (C) gives directions as a wildfire burns near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Lefteris Papadimas, George Georgiopoulos and Michele Kambas; Editing by John Stonestreet and Andrew Cawthorne)
A firefighter jumps on a vehicle as a wildfire burns near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasFirefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasFlames rise next to a house as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS A firefighter adjusts his mask as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERSA man reacts to smoke as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS A firefighter helps a local as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS Flames rise next to a firefighting vehicle as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS Firefighters try to extinguish a fire burning near a house as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERSA firefighter stands next to a vehicle as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERSLocals react as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as a wildfire burns at the village of Kontodespoti, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi via REUTERS Flames rise behind a farm as a wildfire burns near the village of Psachna, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasThe Acropolis hill with the Parthenon temple is covered with smoke from a wildfire burning the Island of Evia, in Athens, Greece August 13, 2019.REUTERS/Costas BaltasFlames rise behind a farm as a wildfire burns near the village of Psachna, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasThe Acropolis hill with the Parthenon temple is covered with smoke from a wildfire burning the Island of Evia, in Athens, Greece August 13, 2019.REUTERS/Costas BaltasSmoke rises inside a burned house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasA firefighter arranges a hose outside a burned down house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasA firefighting helicopter makes a water drop during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasA firefighter pours water through a hose as during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas BaltasA firefighter walks at the yard of a burned house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
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