- Villages and monasteries were evacuated on May 20, after a forest fire spread from the Corinth region of southern Greece to western Attica, officials said
- Reports indicate that six villages and two monasteries in the Gerania mountains were ordered to evacuate, while residents of another village were told to leave their homes ahead of approaching fires
- The fire was first spotted on Wednesday night in a forest next to a resort near the Corinth Gulf on the Peloponnese peninsula, about 90 km from Athens
ATHENS, Greece: Villages and monasteries were evacuated on May 20, after a forest fire spread from the Corinth region of southern Greece to western Attica, officials said.
Reports indicate that six villages and two monasteries in the Gerania mountains were ordered to evacuate, while residents of another village were told to leave their homes ahead of approaching fires.
No deaths have been reported.
The fire was first spotted on Wednesday night in a forest next to a resort near the Corinth Gulf on the Peloponnese peninsula, about 90 km from Athens.
Smoke and the smell of fire lingered above Athens throughout the day.
“We are mainly talking about settlements, 90 percent of which are holiday homes,” said fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, as reported by Reuters.
Officials said more than 180 firefighters were battling the blaze, along with 62 fire trucks, 17 aircraft and three helicopters.
