Tourists flee from Greek forest fire

Scores of tourists were evacuated from hotels and apartments today after a forest fire threatened a seaside resort in southern Greece.

Water-dropping planes were used to help contain the flames – stoked by high winds – near the Corinth Canal, 35 miles west of Athens.

Sea traffic was not affected on the canal, a key timesaving route for Mediterranean shipping.

“The situation is difficult ... it’s been hard to co-ordinate our resources,” fire chief Panayiotis Fourlas said.

Homes were also evacuated as a precaution in the seaside town of Agia Marina, near Athens, where a forest fire burned out of control.

“This is a big fire. The winds have made the conditions dangerous,” said Leonidas Kouris, the local governor.