Major Wildfire Erupts at Feneos Forested Site, NE Peloponnese

A major wildfire erupted on Tuesday afternoon at the verdant Feneos site of Corinth prefecture, west-southwest of Athens in a densely forested area of the northeast Peloponnese province.
Several notifications were sent via SMS to local residents and visitors to evacuate the area along specific routes leading away from the flames and smoke.
The fire brigade said the wildfire was first recorded at 15.15 (13.15 GMT) in remote, rugged and mountainous terrain. Winds were blowing at 4 on the Beaufort scale.
A massive fire-fighting operation was underway, indicative of the seriousness of the wildfire, with 185 fire-fighters operating 56 vehicles battling the blaze. Ten water-dropping helicopters and two aerial surveillance choppers were also operating in the area, along with drones.
Local officials have also requested water tankers from surrounding municipalities to join fire-fighting efforts.

The annual summer season in Greece, as in much of the European south, is often accompanied by the scourge of wildfires, which are aided by high temperatures, flammable flora, arid soil conditions and gusty winds.