Fires continue to ravage Greek forests, cutting large island of Evia in half
- The fire on Evia forced the evacuation of about 1,400 people from a seaside village and island beaches after the flames cut off other means of escape
- The causes of the fires are under investigation. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of starting blazes, in two cases intentionally
Pillars of billowing smoke and ash blocked out the sun above Greece’s second-largest island and turned the sky orange as a days-old fire devoured pristine forests and triggered more evacuation alerts on Sunday, while residents appealed for additional firefighting help.
The fire on Evia, an island of forested mountains and canyons laced with small coves of crystalline water, began on August 3 and cut across the popular summer destination from coast to coast, burning out of control for five days. Scores of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been evacuated.
The blaze currently is the most severe of dozens that broke out in Greece in the wake of the country’s most protracted and intense heatwave in three decades, which sent temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113F) and created bone-dry conditions.
The Greek coastguard said three patrol boats, four navy vessels, one ferry, two tourist boats and numerous fishing and private boats were on standby to carry out more potential evacuations from the seaside village of Pefki, on Evia’s northern tip.
Around 350 people already boarded the ferry, the coastguard said, while towering flames cut off many escape routes by roads. Evacuation orders were issued for four villages, including Pefki, but some residents refused to leave, hoping to save their properties.