Sharjah24 - AFP: Firefighters in Greece's Peloponnese peninsula on Friday battled large wildfires fanned by a third consecutive day of high winds, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages, the fire department said.
At least four major blazes were recorded in the southern peninsula in an area between 150 to 250 kilometres (93 to 155 miles) southwest of Athens.
Dozens of firefighters were battling to contain a blaze near a power station outside the Peloponnesian town of Magapoli, backed up by 12 vehicles, six water-bomber planes and two helicopters, according to the Greek news agency ANA.
"The conditions are extremely challenging," fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told reporters.
"The wind speeds have exceeded 95 kilometres per hour in some regions," Vathrakogiannis said, adding that this was making life difficult for planes dropping water on the fires.
In all, he said "45 fire outbreaks have been recorded across the country," the spokesman said.
The fire service had quickly contained a blaze that erupted near the seaside resort of Mavro Lithari close to the capital, he said, while urging civilians to take precautions.
Since Wednesday, Greek authorities have warned of a very high wildfire risk due to strong winds and high temperatures, which in some areas have reached 40 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit).
Two villages and three private schools were evacuated near Koropi on Wednesday due to a fire that broke out 30 kilometres southeast of Athens.
Accustomed to searing summer heat, Greece has been preparing for a particularly difficult wildfire season for weeks.
After the warmest winter in its history, the Mediterranean nation experienced its earliest-ever heatwave last week, with the mercury topping 44 C (111 F) in some areas.
In 2023, Greece experienced an unprecedented two-week heatwave followed by devastating wildfires.
The flames consumed nearly 175,000 hectares (432,000 acres) of forest and farmland, according to the National Observatory of Athens.
Scientists warn that fossil fuel emissions caused by humans are worsening the duration, frequency and intensity of heatwaves around the world.
Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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