Greece: Firefighters race to stop blaze during lull in wind
Fire burns near the village of Galataki as authorities evacuate the place near Corinth, Greece, on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. More than 250 firefighters, backed by water-dropping aircraft, were struggling Wednesday to contain a large wildfire fanned by strong winds that have forced the evacuation of five settlements in southern Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
ATHENS, Greece — Firefighters and water-dropping aircraft were fighting a blaze for a second day in southern Greece Thursday that forced evacuations and a night-long battle to save seaside homes.
The Fire Service said the blaze outside the southern city of Corinth had been contained and that there was no “active front” early Thursday but more than 250 firefighters, four planes and four helicopters were putting out flames as winds were expected to pick up later in the day.
Several seaside areas were evacuated late Wednesday, in an area that has many summer homes and is popular with retirees.
Most evacuated residents were bussed to nearby beaches and no injuries were reported.
The fire burned farmland as well as pine and olive trees and gutted or seriously damaged around 10 homes, local officials said.
