A firefighter operates to extinguish a wildfire on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
More than 200 Greek firefighters backed by water-dropping aircraft are battling the largest blaze of this summer.
Over 500 residents have been evacuated from three villages.
In Athens, people are advised to stay indoors with windows shut as the smoke from the fire fronts has blanketed the capital.
ATHENS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Greek fire fighters were battling the largest wildfires of this summer raging in two major fronts near Athens on Tuesday, local authorities said.
More than 500 residents have been evacuated from three villages as a precautionary measure and no injured have been reported neither near Thebes city in the mainland, northwest of the capital, nor on Evia island, two hour's drive from Athens, according to the Fire Service.
The efforts of more than 200 firefighters who have been deployed to contain the blazes were hampered by strong winds up to 7 on the Beaufort scale blowing in the area, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
A dozen water dropping aircrafts and helicopters back their efforts.
A fire brigade helicopter sprays water to extinguish a wildfire on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
In Evia the flames have already scorched large forested zones, including part of a pine forest included in the EU's Natura 2000 network of protected areas, and reached the villages of Makrymalli and Kontodespoti, according to the Fire Service.
In Thebes after sweeping through forested zones the flames have approached the coastline and residential areas and residents were also ready for evacuation, a local official told AMNA.
In Athens, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection advised vulnerable individuals to stay indoors with windows shut as the smoke from the fire fronts blanketed the capital.
A wildfire is seen on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
The fires broke out during the night, as it had happened on Hymettus mountain in Athens on Monday and in Evia's case locals suspect arson, Yorgos Psathas, Mayor of the municipality of Dirfys- Messapia, which has been mostly affected, told local media.
The Fire Service battled more than 60 wildfires on Monday, according to an e-mailed press announcement. The image was similar on Tuesday, as fires were reported across the country.
Each summer Greece is suffering from destructive fires which are linked mainly to heat waves and arson. In July 2018 a wildfire which swept through a resort near Athens resulted in 102 casualties.
On Monday, a 29-year-old local was detained on Crete Island as suspect of arson, the Fire Service announced.
A burning house is seen during a wildfire on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
Firefighters operate to extinguish a wildfire on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
A firefighter operates to extinguish a wildfire on Hymettus mountain in Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2019. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)
