A WILDFIRE has raged across a Greek island forcing residents and tourists to evacuate.
The fire, which erupted below the Pangia Voitheia Monastery on Chios Island, Greece, has continued to burn and spread due to powerful winds.
ReutersFiremen work to extinguish a wildfire fanned by strong winds[/caption]
A firefighter pours water to cool down his colleague
ReutersThe blaze has spread due to powerful winds[/caption]
Over 100 firefighters have been working on-the-ground to put out the blaze, while 11 water-dropping helicopters have been helping from the sky.
As night fell, dramatic photographs emerged of firefighters battling the towering flames that burnt through villages, farmland and woodland.
Emergency services have been deployed to ensure the safety of residents as authorities have urged locals to comply with evacuation demands.
Multiple evacuation orders have been issued throughout the day with residents in Karyes asked to evacuate toward the main town of Chios.
According to the Hellenic Fire Department, fire erupted in Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios in Vrontados within one hour.
Other affected areas include Agios Makarios in Vrontados, Agios Panteleimonas, Kastrominas, Paryfes, Gialourika, and Panagia Voitheia.
An urgent investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze with authorities concerned it was a deliberate arson attack.
A specialised arson task force is currently on its way to the island, who will work with Greece’s police state security division to work out the cause of the fires.
The extent of the damage is still being assessed but officers warn strong winds could cause the fire to spread through the night.
The department has deployed water tankers and heavy machinery to help contain the fire, while a further 35 personnel and five vehicles have been called to support with the operation.
This isn’t the first time Greece has suffered from spreading wildfires.
Last year, wildfires wreaked havoc in the country as more than 700 firefighters sought to tackle the raging fires, which spread because of soaring temperatures and strong winds.
Parts of Greece, including an area 24 miles north of Athens, and a stretch of pine forest in the port city of Piraeus on the island of Hydra were hit by the blaze.
At one stage, half of the country was on high alert and more than 12 areas were ordered to leave.
This followed a summer of extreme fires in 2023, when some of the worst wildfires in living memory burnt through parts of the country,
Some 61 separate fires struck across the country — in Rhodes, Corfu, Evia and close to Athens.
The blazes across the country, which were supercharged by strong winds and temperatures exceeding 40C killed five, including two firefighter pilots.
Thousands of British holidaymakers were also left stranded in the burning country as a host of airlines cancelled their flights.
In Rhodes, dramatic drone footage showed a huge black scar scorched from the middle of the island to the town of Kiotari on the east coast.
Meanwhile, strong winds whipped the fires across the Volos region, where they triggered a series of violent explosions near to an air force base that turned the sky blood red.
The site – which had already been evacuated – was used to store explosives for Greek fighter jets and is only 4 miles north of a major military airbase in Nea Anchialos.
Firefighters battle with a large wildfire burning in Karyes village
ReutersResidents were evacuated from their homes to avoid the spreading fire[/caption]
An urgent investigation has been launched into the cause of the blazeEPA
EPAEmergency services helped evacuate tourists and residents[/caption]
EPAA Canadair plane and firefighting helicopter[/caption]
EPAThick smoke rises as a wildfire burns forested land next to residential areas on Chios Island[/caption]
EPAA Canadair plane drops water over a wildfire on Chios Island[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
