Wildfire Erupts in Southern Evia

A particularly aggressive wildfire erupted on Friday afternoon near the village of Mesohoria in the interior of southern Evia Island, an otherwise sparsely populated region that in the past has been scorched by such seasonal blazes.
Fifty-four fire-fighters were dispatched to the site, operating 16 vehicles.
Very gusty winds were blowing in the area, as southern Evia is possibly Greece’s windiest region.

The fire was spreading along brushland and crop lands.

Local residents, notably in the village of Tsakei, were notified via SMS to be ready for evacuation, if necessary, while fire-fighting efforts focused on containing the blaze before dusk.