PEFKI, Greece (AP) — Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece's second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages an island of forested mountains and canyons laced with small coves of crystalline water 3 and cut across the popular summer destination from coast to coast as it burned out of control Scores of homes and businesses have been destroyed and thousands of residents and tourists have fled many escaping the flames via flotillas that even operated in the dark of night The blaze now is the most severe of dozens that broke out in Greece in the wake of the country's most protracted heat wave in three decades which sent temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) for days and created bone-dry conditions the area has been destroyed,” Giannis Kontzias mayor of the northern Evia municipality of Istiaia Residents of nearby villages had been urged to head to Istiatia a town of 7,000 that firefighters battled to save overnight Acrid, choking smoke hung in the orange-grey air, turning the day into an apocalyptic twilight as people headed towards the pebble beach at the seaside village of Pefki clutching pets and helping elderly relatives two tourist boats and numerous fishing and private boats were on standby at Pefki to evacuate residents if necessary Around 350 people already boarded the ferry as the fire cut off many road-based escape routes Another 23 people were picked up by the coast guard and a volunteer rescue group from other beaches in northern Evia and were taken to Pefki burning trees on the fringes of the village and even in some yards Panicked residents raced with water tanks and hoses,= in a seemingly futile effort to extinguish the fire Evacuation orders were issued for four villages in northern Evia towering flames leaped from the tops of trees devouring the pine forest leading up to the village Some residents remained in the picturesque mountain village dousing homes with water from garden hoses in a last-ditch effort to save them Others used bulldozers to raze trees and bushes Civil Protection chief Nikos Hardalias said the Evia fire was burning on two fronts He said the conditions there were particularly tough for the water-dropping planes and helicopters fighting the blazes whose pilots faced “great danger" with limited visibility and air turbulence “We have before us one more difficult afternoon “All the forces that have been fighting a difficult battle all these days will continue operating with unabated intensity doors and chimneys to prevent burning embers from entering houses the coast guard and ferries evacuated 83 people from beaches in northern Evia after a massive operation Friday night that plucked more than 1,000 people from beaches and a seaside village as flames raged on the hills behind them The fire department said 575 firefighters with 35 ground teams and 89 vehicles were battling the Evia wildfire including 112 Romanian and 100 Ukrainian firefighters Four helicopters and three planes provided air support Three more major fires were also burning Sunday in Greece's southern Peloponnese region while another fire broke out Sunday afternoon on the southern island of Crete The massive fire that ravaged forests homes and businesses on the northern fringes of the Greek capital appeared to be on the wane That fire burnt through large tracts of a national park on Mount Parnitha the largest forested area remaining near Athens Rekindling of the fire north of Athens was a constant concern adding that firefighters and the military had been patrolling all night to tackle the situation One firefighter was transferred to a hospital Sunday after passing out during a patrol a volunteer firefighter died after suffering head injuries from a falling electric pole north of Athens while at least 20 people have been treated for fire-related injuries including two firefighters hospitalized in intensive care The causes of the fires are under investigation Three people were arrested Friday on suspicion of starting blazes A 47-year-old Greek was arrested Saturday in an Athens suburb for lighting two fires in a grove and setting four dumpsters on fire Police said Sunday that two more people had been arrested on suspicion of attempted arson: a 71-year-old Greek in southern Greece and a foreigner in an Athens park Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said securing aid for those affected by the fires would be “my first political priority,” and has promised that all burnt areas will be reforested Greek and European officials have also blamed climate change for the large number of fires in southern Europe this summer Massive fires also have been burning across Siberia in northern Russia for weeks forcing the evacuation Saturday of a dozen villages wildfires have burned nearly 15 million acres this year in Russia gusty weather has also fueled devastating wildfires in California Greece (AP) — Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece's second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages The blaze is the most severe of dozens that broke out in the wake of Greece's most protracted heat wave in three decades which sent temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) for days He was one of several local officials and residents who took to Greek TV networks to appeal for more firefighting help particularly from water-dropping planes and helicopters Evacuation orders were issued Sunday for four villages in northern Evia fast-moving flames had encroached on the seaside village of Pefki burning trees on the fringes and entering the houses’ yards hoses and branches in a seemingly futile effort to extinguish the flames firefighters managed to stop the fire before it advanced further into Pefki Pefki residents and tourists fled to the port of Aidipsos to take the ferry to the mainland port of Arkitsa turning the day into an apocalyptic twilight as people headed towards Pefki's pebble beach exhausted evacuees who had boarded the vessel before the advance of the fire was halted Passengers complained they had been left to fend for themselves as the fire approched nothing!" David Angelou told The Associated Press adding that the villagers' hoses were inadequate to stop the fire Angelou described the frightening hours before the evacuation citing what they saw as a lack of firefighting forces or planes or delays in their arrival “There was ash and smoke everywhere,” said Christina Tsatou who had been in the seaside village of Agios Georgios “It is very sad that they did not send help in the first days and they left the island burning It was unfair and many people have lost their property In the picturesque mountain village of Gouves devouring the pine forest leading to the village He said the conditions there were particularly tough for the water-dropping planes and helicopters “We have before us...one more difficult night,” Hardalias said The wildfires have stretched Greece's firefighting capabilities to the limit and the government has appealed for help from abroad More than 20 countries in Europe and the Mideast have responded The fire department said Sunday 575 firefighters 35 ground teams and 89 vehicles were battling the Evia wildfire Three more major fires were also burning Sunday in Greece's southern Peloponnese region while another broke out Sunday afternoon on the southern island of Crete That blaze burnt through large tracts of a national park on Mount Parnitha Firefighters were worried that the Mount Parnitha fire would rekindle so they and the military had been patroling all night At least eight people have been arrested around Greece Iliana Mier-Lavin contributed to this report from Arkitsa Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change rewritten or redistributed without permission Greece (AP) — Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece’s second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages The blaze is the most severe of dozens that broke out in the wake of Greece’s most protracted heat wave in three decades turning the day into an apocalyptic twilight as people headed towards Pefki’s pebble beach nothing!” David Angelou told The Associated Press adding that the villagers’ hoses were inadequate to stop the fire Angelou’s complaint was echoed by others whose pilots faced “great danger” with limited visibility and air turbulence “We have before us…one more difficult night,” Hardalias said The wildfires have stretched Greece’s firefighting capabilities to the limit Three more major fires were also burning Sunday in Greece’s southern Peloponnese region Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames as a local resident holds a water hose during a wildfire at Ellinika village on Evia island about 176 kilometers (110 miles) north of Athens Firefighters and residents battled a massive forest fire on Greece’s second largest island for a seventh day Monday fighting to save what they can from flames that have decimated vast tracts of pristine forest destroyed homes and businesses and sent thousands fleeing A local resident looks an aircraft dropping water over a wildfire at Ellinika village on Evia island A firefighter operates during a wildfire at Ellinika village on Evia island An helicopter fills water during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island about 189 kilometers (118 miles) north of Athens 2021.Firefighters and residents battled a massive forest fire on Greece’s second largest island for a seventh day Monday A man touches a horse as the smoke of a wildfire spreads over a mountain in Ellinika village on Evia island about 183 kilometers (114 miles) north of Athens An aircraft drops water over a wildfire at Ellinika village on Evia island Firefighters operate at Ellinika village on Evia island The smoke of a wildfire spreads over a mountain as horses are seen at a farm in Ellinika village on Evia island An helicopter fills water as people sit on the beach during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island Smoke from wildfire spreads over people as they enjoy the sea at Edipsos on Evia island People watch the flames burning trees during a wildfire in Avgaria village on Evia island about 184 kilometers (113 miles) north of Athens Firefighters try to extinguish the flames at Ellinika village on Evia island A burned bed and a lamp are seen in a burned house after a wildfire in Kastri village on Evia island about 188 kilometers (117 miles) north of Athens fighting to save what they can from flames that have ravaged vast tracts of pristine forest Flames burn a forest near Galatsona village on Evia island A burned house after a wildfire in Kastri village on Evia island People gather on the beach as a ferry is docked for the evacuation during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island Pillars of billowing smoke and ash are blocking out the sun above Greece’s second-largest island as a days-old wildfire devours more pristine forests and triggers more evacuation alerts Fire burns trees near a beach at Pefki village on Evia island Pillars of billowing smoke and ash are blocking out the sun above Greece’s second-largest island as a days-old wildfire devours pristine forests and triggers more evacuation alerts A woman lays in a docked ferry during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island 3 and has cut across the popular summer destination from coast to coast as it burned out of control A man sleeps as a woman speaks on her cellphone in a docked ferry during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island A woman carries a mattress in a docked ferry during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island disembarks from a ferry which accommodated people during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island An helicopter flies over a ferry which accommodated people Flames burn a house at Pefki village on Evia island A firefighter operates in Asmini village on Evia island about 193 kilometers (120 miles) north of Athens Pillars of billowing smoke and ash turned the sky orange and blocked out the sun above Greece’s second-largest island Sunday as a days-old wildfire devoured pristine forests and encroached on villages People and pets gather on the beach during a wildfire at Pefki village on Evia island An elderly woman sleeps at a ferry which accommodated people A disembarks from a ferry which accommodated people Greece (AP) — Firefighters and residents battled into the night Monday for a seventh day against a massive fire on Greece’s second-largest island as the nation endured what the prime minister described as “a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions.” a rugged island of forests and coves close to the Greek mainland blocked out the sun and turned the sky orange is the most severe of hundreds in the past week across Greece gobbling up pristine pine forests as well as homes and businesses and forcing hundreds to quickly evacuate by sea to save their lives Greece has been baked by its worst heat wave in three decades which sent temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) and turned its prized pine forests into bone-dry tinderboxes Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the destruction in Evia and elsewhere “blackens everyone’s hearts” and pledged compensation for all affected as well as a huge reforestation and regeneration effort He also apologized for “any weaknesses” shown in addressing the emergency a nod to criticism from some residents and officials who said Greece’s firefighting efforts and equipment were woefully inadequate “These last few days have been among the hardest for our country in decades,” Mitsotakis said “We are dealing with a natural disaster of unprecedented dimensions.” With roads on the island cut off by the flames residents and tourists fled to Evia’s beaches and jetties to be ferried to safety by a flotilla of ferries and boats who had been in the seaside village of Pefki said Sunday night after leaving by ferry to the mainland Mitsotakis said Monday he “fully understands” the pain of those who lost homes or property and the anger of those seeking airborne assistance “without knowing whether the firefighting aircraft were operating elsewhere or whether conditions made it impossible for them to fly.” But he urged Greeks to reflect “not only on what was lost but also on what was saved in such an unprecedented natural disaster.” Other big wildfires were still burning Monday in Greece’s southern Peloponnese region hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed or damaged and at least 40,000 hectares (nearly 100,000 acres) have been burned Power cuts on Monday affected at least 17,000 households The causes of the blazes are as yet undetermined though several people have been arrested for alleged arson Greece’s top prosecutor has ordered an investigation into whether the high number of fires could be linked to criminal activity More than 20 countries in Europe and the Mideast have responded to Greece’s call for help Greece’s Foreign Ministry tweeted that neighboring Turkey — Greece’s historic regional rival — will be sending two firefighting planes because a top envoy said Turkey’s wildfires “are now under control.” The ministry also said Russia would be sending two firefighting planes and two helicopters scarred by a deadly wildfire in 2018 near Athens that killed more than 100 people The coast guard said 2,770 people had been evacuated by sea across the country between July 31 and Aug Some residents ignored the orders to try to save their villages spraying homes with garden hoses and digging mini firebreaks are doing what they can to save their own and neighboring villages,” said Yiannis Katsikoyiannis a volunteer from Crete who came to Evia to help his father save his horse farm near Avgaria everything would have been burnt down – perhaps even two days sooner,” he said they never saw any water-dropping aircraft And of course now the conditions are wrong for them to fly threatening yet more villages even as 600 firefighters struggled to tame the inferno One Greek volunteer firefighter died near Athens last week while four more were in the hospital Monday two in critical condition with extensive burns Wildfires were also burning in southern Italy where a large fire in the Malo Brdo district of the capital Podgorica was coming close to houses on Monday authorities urged the public to be careful with fire amid a heat wave forecast for this week Firefighters for weeks have been battling blazes in Sardinia “We have faced very difficult and dramatic days fighting fires and the temperatures that are forecast require the utmost attention,’’ said Fabrizio Curcio “We are asking the maximum collaboration and caution from citizens .. to avoid any behavior that can set off a fire and report immediately the smallest blaze.” dozens of wildfires followed the worst heat wave in decades mostly in remote areas where only helicopters and planes could be deployed Thousands of acres of forest have been destroyed and authorities have arrested five suspected arsonists Associated Press journalists Nicolae Dumitrache in Pefki Set on a secluded peninsula on the sun-kissed island of Rhodes, Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes is set to open its doors on 28th July 2025 Joining The Luxury Collection's prestigious portfolio this new hotel extends an open invitation to global travellers seeking a unique oceanfront retreat that thoughtfully blends modern boutique luxury with the iconic heritage treasures of Rhodes the hotel pays tribute to the island's stone craftsmanship through its meticulous design and immersive guest experiences offering a gateway for travellers to explore Rhodes' rich history and cultural significance Guests can unwind in the elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites featuring a contemporary design which references the island's mythological heritage and the Mediterranean Savour Epicurean Moments inspired by the island's culinary splendour and immerse in Destination Discoveries ranging from ceramic workshops with Rhodian artists and guided excursions to intimate dinners in private coves Rhodes draws on a history of stone craftsmanship and its proximity to the limestone splendour of Lindos Acropolis across 197 rooms and suites The design contrasts local stone with flowing linens and a warm earthy colour palette to create an environment balancing natural warmth with sophisticated All accommodation features an element of outdoor space from balconies to spacious terraces featuring private Jacuzzis and infinity-edge plunge pools The island's rich culinary tradition is honoured at a collection of four restaurants and two bars drawing inspiration from the timeless art of stone carving focusing on Mediterranean flavour from breakfast through to dinner Glaze is inspired by the ancient art of ceramics with a menu focused on meats infused with rich while Cava Di Pietra focuses on authentic Italian specialities For exceptional Greek seafood with a contemporary twist Kymata transforms traditional Aegean ingredients into a refined gastronomic journey capturing true coastal spirit with every dish sink into a plush seat at the Isle Pool Bar or visit the Amoh Lobby Bar for an elegant intimate setting specialising in premium spirits Epicurean Moments have been curated to immerse guests in the culinary heritage of Rhodes including daily baking workshops with the hotel's resident artisanal baker following authentic recipes and techniques passed down through generations to create delicious baked goods while learning about the island's gastronomic culture A weekly 'Journey of Honey' offers insight into the fascinating world of beekeeping enabling guests to witness the intricate process behind the production of pure Legend says that the island of Rhodes was created from the sea by the sun god Rhodes harness this connection to water to re-energise body and soul and indulge in treatments at the 700m2 Elispa wellness facility blending ancient healing techniques with modern therapies There are six treatment rooms including a couples' suite with a private Jacuzzi plus a Technogym-equipped gym offering personal training Hotel website You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to flee a massive forest fire that has been burning on the Greek island of Evia for the past week Driven by strong winds amid the worst heat wave in decades and resorts on Greece's second-largest island Hundreds of firefighters and locals continue to battle the flames under dark orange smoke-filled skies We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com A collection of winning and honored images from this year’s nature-photo competition A collection of amazing recent images made with the Hubble Space Telescope Mourners of Pope Francis gathered at the Vatican scenes from the the second weekend of Coachella 2025 and landscapes of the Earth’s arctic and subarctic regions Smoke from wildfire spreads Sunday over the statue of Poseidon The fires that have been raging in Greece for nearly a week show no signs of stopping Three large fires are currently burning throughout the country The biggest is on Greece's second-largest island where thousands have already been evacuated Many more continued to queue in lines on the northern part of the island Sunday "We have before us another difficult afternoon another difficult night," Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias said on Sunday "All the forces that have been fighting a difficult battle all these days will continue operating with unabated intensity The fire has destroyed dozens of homes and businesses The government has ordered the evacuation of four villages in northern Evia which had been used as an area of refuge for people already displaced by the fire One fire official told a local newspaper that the fires were so intense, the water from hoses and aircraft was evaporating before reaching the inferno, Agence France-Presse reports Another large fire is burning in the southern Peloponnese peninsula near Ancient Olympia and one is burning in the central region of Fokida Dozens of smaller fires are also raging throughout the country The fires have led to two confirmed deaths including a volunteer firefighter who died near Athens after being struck by a falling utility pole affected by the fire With its emergency responders overwhelmed, Greece has requested assistance from countries near and far. Several countries have already sent aircraft and firefighters, including France, Israel, Romania, Spain and the United States. The Navy Times reports that the U.S Navy sent a reconnaissance plane late last week to assist efforts Flames approaching Gouves village on the island of Evia Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked countries for their help Sunday. "On behalf of the Greek people, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the countries that have sent assistance and resources to help fight the wildfires," Mitsotakis said on Twitter The fires started after the longest heatwave the country has seen in three decades, which kept temperatures around 113 degrees Fahrenheit for several days, and led to dry conditions. Mitsotakis said the fires are linked to "the reality of climate change." Greece is not the only country on fire. Amid a record heat wave, wildfires are also raging in Turkey, Lebanon and Italy. In Turkey more than 500 square miles of coastal forest have been torched Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated there Become an NPR sponsor Greece battled devastating wildfires just north of Athens for a seventh day on Monday a catastrophe that has forced thousands to evacuate and threatens some of the country’s most beloved historical sites as southern Europe faces one of its hottest summers in decades Greek tragedy: An elderly resident wails in anguish when forced to leave her home Gouves residents stood on a hill in the village and watched the nearby flames A wildfire approached the Olympic Academy in Olympia last week Flames approached a church in Gouves as the wildfire intensified Smoke spread over the sea off the coast of Pefki Sunday Firefighters work to extinguish the flames in Pefki Smoke from wildfire spread over a statue of Poseidon Some of Greece's famous olive trees were burned by the wildfires in Pefki A Pefki shepherd sits on the ground keeping watch over his flock as flames rage in the hills A volunteer raises his mask while working to extinguish a wildfire in Taxiarches A woman cradles a dog in her arms as forest fires approach Pefki People in Pefki gathered their pets and belongings on the beach as they escaped wildfires A man runs as fire burns through trees in Kirinthos A local resident gestures as he holds an empty water hose during an attempt to extinguish forest .. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.  Forbes Community GuidelinesOur community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service.  We've summarized some of those key rules below Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain: User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in: Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service. UN agency says El Niño and human-induced climate breakdown could combine to push temperatures into ‘uncharted territory’ The world is almost certain to experience new record temperatures in the next five years and temperatures are likely to rise by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels The breaching of the crucial 1.5C threshold which scientists have warned could have dire consequences according to research from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) it would represent a marked acceleration of human impacts on the global climate system and send the world into “uncharted territory” Countries have pledged, under the 2015 Paris climate agreement to try to hold global temperatures to no higher than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels after scientific advice that heating beyond that level would unleash a cascade of increasingly catastrophic and potentially irreversible impacts said: “This report does not mean that we will permanently exceed the 1.5C specified in the Paris agreement which refers to long-term warming over many years WMO is sounding the alarm that we will breach the 1.5C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency.” Global average surface temperatures have never before breached the 1.5C threshold The highest average in previous years was 1.28C above pre-industrial levels found there was a 66% likelihood of exceeding the 1.5C threshold in at least one year between 2023 and 2027 New record temperatures have been set in many areas around the world in the heatwaves of the past year as climate breakdown and the impact of a developing El Niño weather system combine to create heatwaves across the globe El Niño is part of an oscillating weather system that develops in the Pacific which has had a dampening effect on temperature increases around the world As La Niña ends and a new El Niño develops, there is a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years will be the hottest on record, the scientists found. Taalas warned of the effects. “A warming El Niño is expected to develop in the coming months and this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory. This will have far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management and the environment,” he said. “We need to be prepared.” The Arctic is heating much faster than the rest of the world, and this appears to be having an impact on global weather systems, including the jet stream, which has disrupted weather across the northern hemisphere in recent years. Free weekly newsletterThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential There is likely to be less rainfall this year in the Amazon, Central America, Australia and Indonesia, the report found. This is particularly bad news for the Amazon, where scientists have grown increasingly concerned that a vicious cycle of heating and deforestation could tip the region from rainforest into savannah-like conditions. Read moreThat could have calamitous consequences for the planet which relies on rainforests as massive carbon sinks there is likely to be above-average rainfall in northern Europe the global near-surface temperature is predicted to be between 1.1C and 1.8C above the pre-industrial average The world has warmed considerably in recent years requiring countries to hold global temperature increases to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels while “pursuing efforts” to hold them to 1.5C it was forecast that the chance of temporarily exceeding the 1.5C threshold within the following five years was zero governments will meet for the Cop28 UN climate summit where they will assess progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris agreement this assessment is likely to show that the world is far off track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the 43% this decade that is required to have a good chance of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C the formerly powerful leader of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party has been conditionally released from prison after a decision by the judicial council of Lamia in central Greece who was serving a multi-year sentence for the leading role he played in the party’s criminal activity was released against to the prosecutor’s recommendation which was categorically against his parole before the expiry of his detention period The decision provoked heated debate and criticism as the judicial council ruled despite the opposition of the public prosecutor who insisted that the request for his release did not meet substantial conditions and that he remains unrepentant He cited extensive articles in which Michaloliakos appears unrepentant and that he declares his imprisonment is a political political persecution and a conspiracy the panel of judges assessed Michaloliakos’ conduct positively and said the articles didn’t imply the intention to commit new unlawful acts It therefore ordered the applicant’s release with immediate effect He is prohibited from leaving the Attica region and must appear at the police station of his place of residence (Pefki) once a month He also cannot associate with co-defendants in the specific criminal case for which he was detained The prosecutor has the right to appeal the verdict but it should be noted that Michaloliakos’ release was made under the criminal law that was in force in 2018 and did not change in 2019 With the subsequent amendments – after 2021 – he would not have the right to apply for parole an appeal is already being considered by the prosecution authorities as the judicial precedent with the release of Michaloliakos could lead to similar verdicts for other Golden Dawn prisoners another former leading Golden Dawn official may have also submitted a request for release from prison Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox The wildfires that broke out in Attica and Evia this week have burned more than 25,000 hectares The wildfires that broke out in Attica and Evia this week have burned more than 25,000 hectares Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images with 10 people confirmed dead and dozens needing hospital treatment.Locals rush to a burning house in an attempt to extinguish forest fires approaching the village of Pefki on Evia island in Greece on 9 August 'A horrible disaster': Hundreds of families left homeless as devastating fires continue to rage in Greece ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Two people have been confirmed dead in Greece and eight in Turkey wildfires Brazil: Jaguar burned by wildfire helped back to health Fast-moving fire threatens Santa Barbara County Wildfire burns dry brush and timber in California Australian beach towns ablaze as wildfire intensifies Greece: Firefighters tried Monday to prevent fires from reaching key communities and a thick forest that could fuel an inferno that one official said has destroyed hundreds of homes in seven days on the Greek island of Evia If most of nearly two weeks of fires had stabilised or receded in other parts of Greece the ones on rugged and forested Evia were the most worrying and created apocalyptic scenes Firefighters were putting the priority on saving the villages of Kamatriades and Galatsades on Monday because “if the fire passes through there it will end up in a thick forest that will be difficult to extinguish,” firefighters told the Greek news agency ANA After the fire laid siege to one village after another on the north of the island firefighters also toiled until dawn to quench flames at Monokarya in order to protect the town of Istiaia all without the help of water-dousing aircraft Thick and suffocating smoke on Monday also enveloped the coastal region of Pefki where hundreds of villagers had been evacuated by sea Greece and neighbouring Turkey have been battling the devastating fires for nearly two weeks as the region suffers its worst heatwave in decades Two people have been confirmed dead in Greece and eight in Turkey While rain brought some respite from the blazes in Turkey over the weekend Greece continued to suffer from an intense heatwave that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said should show even doubters the hard reality of climate change On Sunday Civil protection deputy minister Nikos Hardalias warned of “another difficult night” ahead saying that strong winds were pushing a fire front towards beach villages on Evia Among 650 firefighters deployed on the island supported by 11 planes and helicopters dousing flames with water during the day according to the Greek firefighting services But the air support faced “serious difficulties” because of turbulence echoed many when he blasted the “insufficient forces” to fight the fires while “the situation is critical” on the island He said at least 35,000 hectares of land and hundreds of homes have been burned Hundreds of people have already fled the island and another 349 were taken to safety early on Sunday young people carried older people over the sand on to a ferry villagers joined in the battle against the flames “We are in the hands of God,” 26-year-old Evia resident Yannis Selimis told AFP with officials saying that fires in the southwestern Peloponnese region and in a suburb north of Athens had abated But Hardalias warned the risk of fires resurging was heightened Some 300 firefighters remained mobilised on the Peleponnese and rescue teams on Monday still fought flames at the foot of Mount Parnes These included units from Israel as well as Cyprus and France 56,655 hectares (140,000 acres) were burnt in Greece according to the European Forest Fire Information System The average area burnt over the same period between 2008 and 2020 was 1,700 hectares Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox Spain opens probe after cable theft halts trains Rich Britons are leaving UK in droves: Why it matters Multiple fires have been dangerously blazing across Greece since Tuesday There were more than 150 fires burning across Greece on Sunday fuelled by one of the worst heatwaves in recent times Tourists in the area have described scenes as “apocalyptic” and a “horror movie” Three evacuated villages in northern Evia island have been engulfed in flames in a fire on the island which has been blazing out of control for several days Authorities called for further evacuations on Sunday as the fire blazed across multiple fronts READ MORE: Antetokounmpo offers assistance to victims of the fires in Athens Vouliki and Pefki were called to evacuate through the 112 European emergency messaging system Residents have been advised to head toward Istiea firefighters – assisted by colleagues from other countries – began efforts to save Vassilika They are assisted by several volunteer firefighters from Athens Roads were rendered impassable either because they were too narrow or because they were engulfed in flames and fallen Public Power Corporation wooden poles blocked passage Deputy Mayor of Istiea-Edipsos said that the fronts were endless “All villages are a single fire front This fire cannot be fought by heavy machinery” opening buffer zones “we need airborne forces immediately.” READ MORE: Greece on fire: scenes of destruction as 98 new fires break out Geraki and Gouves front is over 8 km long and continues to expand east (on the Aegean side) to Agriovotano and to Avgaria in the west Istiea Mayor Yiannis Kontzias urged the dispatch of more airplanes as evacuations by sea continue while the fire at several places approaches coastal towns Port Authority (PA) officials and the Greek Rescue Team continued checking beaches at Evia even after evacuations in case there were other evacuees left behind 23 people were evacuated from various beaches the northernmost part of the island away from the fires As Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported earlier two ships and two vessels of the Hellenic Navy private and fishing vessels are on standby in the western shore of Evia Agdines and Tsapournia are facing rekindled fires while at the southern section the fire at Troupi has rekindled Είστε ξεφτίλες ρε μαλακες! Ξεφτίλες. Τέλος! pic.twitter.com/iBimaXuivJ — V™ 🏁 (@nuxtoVios) August 8, 2021 A PZL firefighting airplane crashed during operations to put out a fire on Zakynthos island on Sunday the pilot of the airplane was picked up by other firefighters on the Ionian island The aircraft was one of a pair dispatched to assist firefighters in the Lagopodo-Macherado area where 24 firefighters are operating with seven fire trucks the day of the big fire which raged in Varybombi arson devices were found in the region by police