Wildfires rampage in Greek forests, thousands evacuated

Three large wildfires churned across Greece on Saturday, with one threatening whole towns and cutting a line across Evia, the country's second-largest island, isolating its northern part. Others engulfed forested mountain sides and skirted ancient sites, leaving behind a trail of destruction that one official described as 'a biblical catastrophe.'

Updated On: 2021-08-10 12:34 PM IST

A local resident gestures as he holds an empty water hose during an attempt to extinguish forest fires approaching the village of Pefki on Evia (All photos/AFP)

A woman sleeps in her car on the beach as wildfire rages in Pefki village on Evia (Euboea) island, second largest Greek island. Hundreds of Greek firefighters fought desperately to control wildfires on the island of Evia that have charred vast areas of pine forest, destroyed homes and forced tourists and locals to flee.

A tree trunk burning during a wildfire at the village of Pefki on Evia (Euboea) island, Greece's second largest island.

A woman holds a dog in her arms as forest fires approach the village of Pefki.

A blaze engulfs trees in its path as forest fires approach the village of Pefki on Evia. Greece and Turkey have been battling devastating fires for nearly two weeks as the region suffered its worst heatwave in decades, which experts have linked to climate change.

Smoke rises from smouldering trees as forest fires approach the village of Pefki.

A firefighter and locals rush to a burning house in an attempt to extinguish forest fires.

A local resident drops water as he fights the wildfire in the village of Gouves on Evia (Euboea) island, second largest Greek island.

A local resident gestures as he holds an empty water hose during an attempt to extinguish forest fires approaching the village of Pefki on Evia (Euboea) island.

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