Firefighters in Greece continued to battle blazes on the large island of Evia after a new wildfire broke out on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of four settlements. Smoke from the central Evia blaze was visible many miles away in Athens.
The latest 112 emergency alert notified residents in the villages of Kamari, Kalyvia, Agios Georgios and Arma to head towards the island capital of Halkida.
The fire broke out on Wednesday in the Pissona area in the municipality of Dirfys-Messapia and spread quickly towards the village of Afrati, fueled by gale force winds sweeping through one of the few remaining pine forests central Evia, Greece’s second largest island, the northern part of which was devastated in August 2021 by wildfires burning for days.
Burned woodland after the fire that broke our on Monday on Evia island, Greece.
Fire outbreaks have been reported on Evia since June, attributed to the high temperatures, extremely dry conditions and seasonal northerly dry winds. Although arson has not been ruled out for the dozens of fires breaking out daily in Greece, very few cases result in indictments.
Several other wildfires erupted on Wednesday, including one in Keratea, along the southeast tip of Attica prefecture; Kilkis and Xanthi, in north and northeast Greece, respectively; Serres, Thessaloniki, Kefalonia, and even in the urban district of Egaleo, west of downtown Athens.
Fire brigade officials said bringing the Evia blaze under control was “extremely difficult” due to its ferocious speed and strong winds expected to continue into Thursday.
Military forces joined some 120 firefighters, five hiker crew, and 40 vehicles, while 11 water bombing planes and six helicopters operated at the scene before dusk.
Meanwhile, the fire that broke out on Monday in Petria, further south along Evia, destroyed approximately 2,471 acres of mixed woodlands, brushland and crops, according to an initial assessment by the Kymi-Aliveri municipal authority.
