Massive Fire Engulfs Corinth in Greece, Urgent Evacuation of Villages

A large forest fire broke out near the city of Corinth in Greece yesterday evening, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for several surrounding villages.

More than 180 firefighters, along with 15 planes and 12 helicopters, are involved in battling the fire, which has consumed a mountainous pine forest in the area.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries among civilians or firefighters.

Firefighters are facing extremely difficult conditions with temperatures soaring to around 40 degrees Celsius in several areas of the country, making it harder to control the fire.

In a separate incident, a firefighting helicopter crashed while attempting to draw water near Athens, but it sank in the sea. The three crew members were rescued and taken to the hospital.

Forest fires are a recurring phenomenon in Greece during hot and dry summer seasons, with authorities dealing with dozens of fires across the country this year.

The worst was in 2018 when a massive fire swept through the coastal town of Mati east of Athens, trapping residents inside their homes and on roads as they tried to escape, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people, including some who drowned while attempting to swim to safety.