EPA
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NOS News•yesterday, 23:35
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Greek firefighters are busy with a series of wildfires spread across the country. As a precaution, people have been evacuated from houses in several places. About 300 wildfires have broken out in the past week, according to the fire service, 65 of which have occurred in the past 24 hours.
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The largest fire is located about 40 kilometers west of Athens. The fire started on Tuesday afternoon near the coastal town of Porto Germeno. More than 130 firefighters and ten fire-fighting planes and helicopters have been fighting the large forest fire since then.
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According to the local authorities, the strong, often changing direction of the wind is making the operation more difficult. The fire seems to be spreading more and more slowly as the evening progresses. A village in the vicinity of the forest fire has been evacuated. An uninhabited house has burned down, reports public broadcaster ERT.
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View images of the various forest fires in Greece here:
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More than 50 fires in Greece leave a trail of destruction
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Earlier in the day, firefighters brought another major fire under control. This was near the town of Itea, about 100 kilometers west of Athens. Here too, a number of residents had to leave their homes. About 300 hectares of olive groves went up in flames.
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On Monday, a hotel near the seaside resort of Kranidi in the Peloponnese region was evacuated. No one was injured in this forest fire.
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European aid
The Greek fire brigade receives help from colleagues from other European countries. Firefighters from Bulgaria and Romania, among others, are stationed in Greece, as part of a European cooperation plan. In time, 200 extra firefighters should be able to assist in the forest fire season.
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Greece is hit by forest fires every year. In 2018, more than 100 people died in a large forest fire. Since then, the Greek government has been extra alert to these kinds of calamities.
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Due to the strong winds and the dry, warm weather, the highest fire risk phase will be in effect in large parts of the country until Wednesday. That includes a barbecue ban and people are not allowed to light fires.
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