(8 Aug 2021) Hundreds of firefighters in Greece, backed by planes, helicopters and reinforcements from other countries, battled massive wildfires that continued burning Sunday, fueled by bone-dry conditions after the country’s worst heat wave in decades.
Authorities dedicated the most resources to tackling four major blazes: one, on Greece’s second-largest island of Evia, that has burned for five days, cutting across the island from coast to coast and isolating its northern part; and three in the southern Peloponnese region.
Huge clouds of smoke rose over the village of Gouves on Evia as the flames continued to spread on Sunday.
Overnight, Greek coast guard vessels and ferries evacuated 83 more people from beaches in northern Evia.
Authorities urged the residents of four villages in north Evia to evacuate. On Friday night, more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the island by sea as flames raged on the hillsides behind them, cutting off other means of escape.
The blaze has obliterated vast swathes of forest and burned scores of homes on the island of rugged mountains popular with vacationers and campers.
The fire department said 575 firefighters with 35 ground teams and 89 vehicles were battling the Evia wildfire, including 112 Romanian and 100 Ukrainian firefighters sent to Greece as reinforcements.
Four helicopters and three planes, including a massive Beriev-200 plane leased from Russia, provided air support.
The causes of the fires are under investigation. Three people were arrested Friday - in the greater Athens area, central and southern Greece - on suspicion of starting blazes, in two cases intentionally.
Greek and European officials have blamed climate change for the large number of fires that burned through southern Europe in recent days, from Italy to the Balkans, Greece and Turkey.
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