Wildfires cause panic in Greece

Authorities have issued evacuation orders for villages in south-western Greece where wildfires, aided by strong winds and soaring temperatures, have ravaged large areas.

The blaze, burning mostly pine forest, sent smoke over the city of Patras, a port with 220,000 inhabitants, where regional authorities have declared an emergency.

Nine planes and one helicopter were involved in the firefighting effort at Argyra, nine miles east of Patras.

Apostolos Katsifaras, regional governor for western Greece, said evacuation orders had been issued for villages in the rugged fire stricken area, likely to involve several hundred residents.

“The conditions are very tough. We are using everything we have against the fire,” Mr Katsifaras said.

The state of emergency allows authorities to use additional resources, including Greece’s military.

Forest and brush fires are common in the hot, dry summer months in Greece. More than 60 people were killed when forest fires raged across southern Greece in 2007.