Wildfire rages on Greek island Evia, smoke reaches Athens

Record ID: 1426997

  • Title: Wildfire rages on Greek island Evia, smoke reaches Athens
  • Date: 13th August 2019
  • Summary: PSACHNA, EVIA, GREECE (AUGUST 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FLAMES AND SMOKE RISING FROM TREES BEHIND FARM SMOKE RISING, FIRES BURNING ON HILLSIDE VARIOUS OF TREES ON FIRE AND SMOKE RISING BROWN SMOKE AND FLAMES BURNING TREES ON HILLSIDE PEOPLE LOOKING AT BROWN SMOKE AND ORANGE SKY (AUDIO OF SIRENS) VARIOUS OF BILLOWING BROWN SMOKE BEHIND TREES VARIOUS OF MAN HOSING DOWN YELLOW GRASS ON FARM (SOUNDBITE) (GREEK) OWNER OF COW FARM WHO SAYS SHE WILL NOT LEAVE IF AN EVACUATION ORDER IS GIVEN, FOTINI (NO SURNAME GIVEN) SAYING: "Of course we are scared, how can we not be?" VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTER FLYING IN SKY FIRE TRUCKS WITH SIRENS DRIVING BY RESIDENTS VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS, SOME HOLDING HANDKERCHIEFS AND CLOTHS TO THEIR MOUTH STANDING ON ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PSACHNA RESIDENT YANNIS, SAYING: "What can I say, the whole village is on fire, all the people's worldly possessions. It's a shame." BROWN CLOUD OF SMOKE RISING AGAINST AN ORANGE SKY VARIOUS OF RED SUN SEEN THROUGH BROWN CLOUD OF SMOKE CHALKIDA, EVIA, GREECE (AUGUST 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KITE SURFERS ON BEACH, SMOKE FROM FIRE 18 KILOMETRES AWAY HANGING OVER SEA
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2019 17:57
  • Keywords: Athens Greece fire Evia island wildfire
  • Location: PSACHNA AND CHALKIDA, EVIA, GREECE
  • City: PSACHNA AND CHALKIDA, EVIA, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Fires
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AS1Y7NR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A wildfire fanned by strong winds razed tracts of pine forest on the Greek island of Evia on Tuesday (August 13), leading to villages being evacuated and to an appeal from the authorities for assistance from its European partners.
    A state of emergency has been declared in central Evia as more than 227 firemen, supported by six helicopters and six other aircraft, battle the blaze.
    Croatia and Italy were expected to send help after an appeal for airborne firefighting equipment from Greek authorities.
    The four villages on the island were being evacuated protectively, a fire brigade official said.
    The blaze on Evia, Greece's second-largest island, generated thick smoke that reached the capital, Athens, some 110 kilometres (70 miles) away to the west. By some accounts, the wall of flames was 11 kilometres long, fanned by strong, interchanging winds.
    Wildfires raged in at least four other regions, and the fire brigade said it had been called to put out 182 fires in the last three days.
    Greece often faces wildfires during its dry summer months, and authorities have warned of the high risk of blazes this week. Environmental campaigners see an increasing number of wildfires around the world as a symptom of global warming.
    (Production: Vasilis Stogiannis, Phoebe Fronista)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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