Southern Greece Wildfire Claims Two Lives, Hundreds Evacuated

A major wildfire in southern Greece near Xylokastro has resulted in two deaths and the evacuation of several villages. Strong winds and dry conditions fueled the blaze. Over 350 firefighters and eight aircraft worked to control the fire, which is part of a growing trend of wildfires in southern Europe.

Two people died overnight in a large wildfire that tore through forestland near a seaside resort in southern Greece, authorities confirmed.

The fire service reported that about 350 firefighters, assisted by eight water-dropping aircraft, managed to mostly control the blaze near Xylokastro in the Peloponnese region early Monday.

As a precautionary measure, authorities ordered the evacuation of half a dozen villages overnight after the fire broke out on Sunday, driven by strong winds that spread through tinder-dry forests affected by a warm spring and hot summer.

The two deceased are believed to be local residents who were reported missing late Sunday, with no other individuals currently unaccounted for.

There have been no immediate reports of homes being burned in the area, located about 150 kilometers southwest of Athens.

Greece, like other southern European nations, faces the destructive impact of wildfires every summer. In recent months, authorities have dealt with more than 4,500 such incidents.