Wildfire burning through forest in southern Greece kills 2 people
ATHENS, Greece: A large wildfire in southern Greece claimed the lives of two people as it tore through forestland near Xylokastro in the Peloponnese region, officials announced.
Around 350 firefighters, assisted by 18 water-dropping aircraft, were deployed to control the blaze.
Although the main fire-front was extinguished, flare-ups persisted, prompting evacuation orders for three villages. Earlier, half a dozen villages were evacuated overnight as a precaution when the fire broke out on Sunday, though there was no immediate threat to Xylokastro.
Strong winds fanned the flames, and the area remained vulnerable due to forests left dry by a warm spring and hot summer attributed to climate change. Authorities believe the two deceased men were local residents who were reported missing late Sunday. No further individuals were reported missing, and there were no immediate reports of damaged homes.
Firefighters also battled another forest fire near Xerokambi in the central Peloponnese on Monday, and they managed to bring a wildfire near Andravida in the western Peloponnese under control, though teams remained on alert.
Civil protection officials warned that areas, including Rhodes and other southeastern Aegean Sea islands, faced high wildfire risks for Tuesday. Greece, like other southern European nations, faces destructive wildfires each summer, exacerbated by global warming. This year’s fire season, marked by over 4,500 wildfires amid drought and heatwaves, is considered the most dangerous in two decades.
Authorities have credited investments in water-bombing aircraft, drones, and firefighting equipment for enabling quick response to many fires. Despite this, August saw a major wildfire north of Athens that destroyed dozens of homes and killed one person. Still, officials noted that the expanse of land burned this summer is around 25 percent smaller than the annual average over the past two decades.