As a weeklong heatwave reached its peak with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) Greek emergency services are battling numerous wildfires.
On Sunday morning, planes and helicopters resumed their work in several areas of the Peloponnese region west of the capital, Athens, and on the islands of Evia and Kythera as they raked in flames.
Around Drosopigi in northern Attica, which is located just 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of Athens, were one of the most challenging fronts, according to firefighters.
A house was already alight in Drosopigi as a result of winds of 5 to 6 Beaufort (in the range of 30 to 50 km/h or 19 to 31mph), according to state-run Ertnews TV.
Authorities on Saturday issued a severe wildfire warning, putting several regions on the nation’s highest Category 5 alert due to the scorching and dry weather.
Greece’s meteorological service predicted a heat wave that started last Monday would continue until this Monday.
The Peloponnese region of Messinia had the highest temperature recorded on Friday, according to the National Observatory in Athens, which was 45.8C (114.5F). In Amfilochia, western Greece, the temperature reached 45.2C (113. 4F) on Saturday.
According to the Athens News Agency, 36 vehicles, two aeroplanes, and three helicopters were used to battle the blaze near Drosopigi, which involved about 100 firefighters.
A fire was also raging out of control on the island of Evia near the Attica region of Athens. Two firefighters were taken to a hospital with minor injuries while two fire engines were destroyed.
On the island of Kythera in southern Greece, a wildfire that started just before 9:30 am (06:30 GMT) on Saturday was also out of control.
Source: Aljazeera
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