At least one person has died and homes and farmland have been destroyed as wildfires stoked by gale-force winds broke out across Greece on Friday.
A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens was contained by Saturday morning local time, but evacuations of at-risk areas continued as strong winds were expected through the weekend.
The worst blaze broke out in the small town of Keratea, south-west of the capital, where firefighters later discovered the body of an elderly man in a burned-out structure.
Volunteers try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Keratea, south-west of Athens. (Reuters: Stelios Misinas)
Wind gusts of up to 80kph had fanned the flames around the town on Friday, setting olive orchards alight and torching homes.
Homes were engulfed as locals wearing flimsy face masks assisted firefighters, while police went door to door late at night convincing locals to evacuate.
A fire brigade spokesperson on Saturday said the fire there was under control, but not yet out.
Eirini Beka, 49, looks through the wreckage of her house after the Keratea fire. (Reuters: Stelios Misinas)
‘A wildfire hot spot’
Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed “a wildfire hot spot” by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers.
These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.
Much of the region around Athens has barely had a drop of rain in months.
Other blazes in the region of Ancient Olympia and on the tourist island of Kefalonia appeared to have abated by Saturday.
Reuters
