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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 100 firefighters assisted by
water-dropping helicopters and planes were battling a large
wildfire burning near the main town of the eastern Aegean island
of Chios Sunday, with emergency services ordering the evacuation
of a dozen areas.
The fire department said three separate blazes had broken out in
the morning and mid-day Sunday near the town of Chios. The
flames were fanned by strong winds, leaving firefighters
struggling to contain what turned into one large blaze. The fire
department said it was sending an arson investigation team to
the island.
Dozens of firefighters from Athens and the northern Greek city
of Thessaloniki were sent by ship as reinforcements to the 100
already on the island. Ten water-dropping helicopters and two
firefighting planes provided air support until nightfall.
As daylight faded, local media footage and photos showed
firefighters battling towering flames burning through woodland
and farmland.
Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers,
but authorities have said climate change has been fuelling
bigger and more frequent blazes.
In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati,
east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as
they tried to flee. More than 100 people died, including some
who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
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