Greek authorities warned Saturday of a difficult night ahead due to a large wildfire whipped out of control from high winds in northeastern Greece, leading to the evacuation of eight villages.
“We have a difficult night ahead with wind gusts of 7-8 Beaufort”, Giannis Artopios, the spokesman of the Fire Brigade told Skai tv.
Winds of 7-8 on the 12-tier Beaufort scale are near gale or gale force.
The forest fire broke out early Saturday near the village of Melia, east of the town of Alexandroupolis that was suffocating due to the thick smoke.
The authorities warned residents of the port city to stay inside their homes.
Athens News Agency, citing the fire brigade, said there were reports of burned houses in the villages Aetohori and Pefka where the fire front passed earlier on Saturday.
The main front of the fire was very close to the villages of Agnantia and Anthia as it moved north of Alexandroupolis airport.
Airport authorities were on high alert due to thick smoke threatening visibility in the area.
Earlier Saturday authorities closed a section of a major highway in the area.
The Greek coastguard said that its vessels, and private boats, were on high alert near the port of Alexandroupolis to provide assistance if required.
A total of 31 fire engines, 14 firefighting aircrafts and four water-dropping helicopters, along with volunteers and water trucks from the local authorities were battling the blaze.
Source: AFP
