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Fourth wildfire in Greek island of Evia, villages evacuated

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Published : Jul 6, 2019, 2:31 PM IST

The first blaze broke out on Thursday afternoon while another two started simultaneously just before midnight. Over 250 firefighters are battling wildfires.

Fourth wildfire in Greek island of Evia, villages evacuated

Evia: A wildfire broke out on Friday afternoon in the Greece island of Evia and was destroying woodland and agriculture areas. This is the fourth fire that raged after the first three broke out on Thursday in the same locality.

Authorities have ordered evacuation of four villages and put over 250 firefighters to battle the wildfires.

According to sources, the first blaze broke out on Thursday afternoon while another two started simultaneously just before midnight.

Fourth wildfire in Greek island of Evia, villages evacuated

Authorities said that four water-dropping planes, three helicopters along with 100 vehicles and earth-moving machinery were battling the flames.

Meanwhile, a 64-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of starting the first fire by using a naked flame to burn dried weeds near his house.

Wildfires are common in Greece during the hot, dry summer months.

Last year, the country's deadliest fire killed 101 people in the seaside settlement of Mati outside of capital Athens, including many who drowned as they tried to swim away from intense heat and smoke engulfing beaches.

Read also: Fresh quake of 7.1-magnitude jolts California

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY
SHOTLIST:
ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY
Evia - 5 July 2019
1. Fire burning on hillside
2. Water-dousing helicopter pouring water over flames
3. Close up of helicopter
4. Various of fire burning
5. Water dousing helicopter pouring water over flames
6. Mid of fire on hillside
7. Wide of plume of smoke
STORYLINE:
More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution.
One of the blazes broke out early Thursday afternoon and was burning woodland and agricultural areas, while another two started simultaneously just before midnight Thursday.
The blazes led to four villages being evacuated.
The fire department said a fourth, a forest fire, broke out in the same area Friday afternoon.
The fourth blaze was being tackled by firefighting forces already in the area, authorities said.
A total of 255 firefighters, four water-dropping planes and three helicopters along with 100 vehicles and earth-moving machinery were battling the flames.
Earlier Friday, fire department said that a 64-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of starting the first fire by using a naked flame to burn dried weeds near his house.
The man was to appear before a prosecutor in court Friday.
Wildfires are common in Greece during the hot, dry summer months.
Last year, the country's deadliest fire killed 101 people in the seaside settlement of Mati outside of Athens, including many who drowned as they tried to swim away from intense heat and smoke engulfing beaches.
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