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While the initial large front was put out, scattered flare-ups
continued to burn, forcing evacuation orders for three villages
on Monday.
Earlier, half a dozen villages were ordered evacuated overnight
as a precaution after the blaze broke out on Sunday. There was
no threat to Xylokastro. The flames were fanned by very strong
winds blowing through forests left tinder-dry by a warm spring
and hot summer, attributed to climate change.
Civil protection officials warned that several parts of the
country, including Rhodes and other southeastern Aegean Sea
islands, would face a high risk of wildfires Tuesday.
Authorities said the two dead men were believed to be residents
who were declared missing late Sunday. No one else was reported
missing. There were no immediate reports of burned homes in the
affected area, located some 150 kilometers (93 miles) southwest
of Greece's capital, Athens.
Firefighters assisted by five water-dropping aircraft were also
battling a forest fire that broke out Monday farther south, near
Xerokambi in the central Peloponnese.
Another wildfire near Andravida, in the western Peloponnese, was
also brought under control on Monday, but firefighters remained
on alert.
Greece, like other southern European countries, is plagued by
destructive wildfires every summer that have been exacerbated by
global warming. Over the past few months, authorities have had
to cope with more than 4,500 wildfires in countryside left
parched by a protracted drought and early summer heatwaves, in
what was considered the most dangerous fire season in two
decades.
A big investment in extra water-bombing aircraft, warning drones
and other equipment have enabled firefighters to extinguished
most blazes shortly after they broke out. However, in August, a
ferocious wildfire swept through the mountains north of Athens,
destroying scores of homes and killing one person.
Still, authorities say this summer's expanses that have been
burned are about 25% less in size than the annual average of the
past 20 years.
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