Forest blaze…
A firefighting aircraft is seen yesterday flying over the island of Evia as a large cloud of smoke emerges from a forest blaze. Six water-dropping planes were trying to help ground forces fight a blaze that broke out in Lichada, in the island’s northwest, but their efforts were severely hampered by strong winds. The fire forced the evacuation by ferry of all 426 French nationals from the Club Med hotel near Aidipsos. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear but some reports attributed it to sparks from an electricity pylon. The fire, fanned by strong winds, was approaching the village of Gialtra but homes were not under immediate threat.
