Evacuation launched after Greece’s Evia island is hit by second wildfire in two weeks — RT World News

 Some 46 firefighters have been deployed to the Greek island of Evia after a wildfire started in the southern part of the territory on Monday morning, with airplanes and helicopters dropping water on the blaze to slow its spread.

The fire began near the village of Fygia, forcing the evacuation of two neighboring areas. Outlining the scale of the situation, the Greek fire brigade said a deployment of 46 firefighters, 20 fire engines, three airplanes and two helicopters were on site, as high winds have fueled the blaze, presenting challenging conditions for the emergency services.

With the blaze heading in the direction of the tourist village of Marmari, the island’s coastguard is on standby in the event that a further evacuation via sea needs to take place. If the fire continues towards the coastal area, a lifeboat, private boat and two ferries are waiting to transport people to safety.

The forest fire, the second to hit the island in two weeks, comes after civil protection authorities warned on Sunday of a “very high risk” of fire for parts of Greece, with the government blaming a heatwave for the devastation caused.