Wildfire rages outside Athens fanned by strong winds

Greek firefighters and aircraft fought a blaze in the town of Koropi 30 kilometres south of Athens on Wednesday as strong winds fanned the flames and required citizens to flee their homes and organizations.

Traffic was suspended along a main highway linking Koropi to Athens suburban areas. One storage center was on fire and flames crept into a boat dry dock and throughout fields of dry yard and olive trees, images on local television revealed.

There were no reports of deaths or injuries, a fire service official told . Civil security and authorities evacuated 2 nearby villages.

It was not right away clear what caused the blaze. 4 fire combating planes, six helicopters, dozens of fire engines and more than 50 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, the fire service official said.

Much of the Athens location has actually had no rain for weeks, leaving big locations bone dry.

I saved my home at the last minute. All of it happened so fast, a resident whose face was blackened by smoke told regional Skai television channel.

Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean nation however they have actually ended up being more devastating in the last few years in the middle of hotter and drier summertimes that researchers relate to the environment change.

After forest fires in 2015 required 19,000 people to flee the island of Rhodes and eliminated 20 in the northern mainland, Greece has scaled up its preparations this year by employing more personnel and stepping up training.

(source: Reuters)