A major wildfire on the Greek island of Euboea - the country's first this year - prompted authorities to order precautionary evacuations on Saturday as strong winds drove the flames towards residential areas.
The fire broke out near the villages of Mesochoria and Raptei in the afternoon, with the fire service urging residents to leave the area.
According to media reports, around 120 firefighters, 35 fire engines, seven helicopters and eight aircraft were deployed to battle the blaze. Local news outlet Evima reported that the flames were approaching homes.
Strong winds in the region have fuelled the fire's spread and are forecast to continue through Sunday, complicating firefighting efforts.hit by devastating wildfires. In 2021, tens of thousands of hectares of forest were destroyed in one of the worst fire disasters in the island's history.
