Greek island Chios under emergency declaration as fires burn out of control
Hotter temperatures are forecast to affect Greece in coming days. (Reuters: Konstantinos Anagnostou)
In short:
About 190 firefighters and extra equipment have been deployed to the Greek island of Chios as multiple wildfires burn out of control, fanned by strong winds.
The fires have been raging since the weekend and authorities are warning of more hot weather to come.
Greece has experienced more intense wildfires in recent years due to strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change.
Greece's government has declared a state of emergency on the Mediterranean island of Chios as major fires burn out of control.
Five separate fire outbreaks have been burning in the country's fifth-largest island since the weekend, fanned by strong winds and dry summer conditions.
Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis said the decision was made so the local authorities "can immediately take the necessary measures".
"If the wind dies down a bit we might be able to get this fire under control," he told Greek news site iEidiseis. "But the wind really hasn't dropped."
About 190 firefighters, 38 vehicles, 12 helicopters and four water-bombers had been deployed to tackle the flames, the fire service said.
The Greek government says it has issued an emergency declaration over the island. (Reuters: Konstantinos Anagnostou)
On Sunday, people in about a dozen localities and hundreds of asylum seekers at a reception centre were forced to move, while, on Monday, seven villages had to be evacuated.
The island's capital, Chios, is also at risk, with fires located to the north, west and south of the city, causing power cuts and forcing some residents to flee.
Authorities say several villages are being evacuated for the safety of residents. (Reuters: Konstantinos Anagnostou)
Greece is particularly vulnerable to fires during the summer months, fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change.
Forecasts predict a heatwave in the coming days, with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius expected, including in the capital Athens.
"The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference.
Strong winds are preventing fire fighters from being able to bring the blazes under control. (Reuters: Konstantinos Anagnostou)
The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment.
It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season.
Reuters/AFP