Athens, Oct. 1, (dpa/GNA) – More than 400 firefighters were battling a major forest fire in the north of the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese for the third consecutive day on Tuesday.
NASA satellite images showed that the affected area in the Corinth region measured around 5 by 15 kilometres.
Five fire-fighting helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft, as well as over 120 fire engines, were in operation on Tuesday morning. The smoke was so dense that it could be seen as far away as the capital Athens, around 120 kilometres to the east.
Two firefighters were injured while tackling the blaze, the TV channel ERTNews reported, citing the authorities.
One was treated for respiratory problems, while the other was hit in the eye by a hose. Two volunteers died on Monday – a 35-year-old and a 40-year-old from the village of Ano Pitsa, according to Greek media reports.
Numerous volunteers are still on the scene. Several villages have been evacuated and schools in the region will remain closed until further notice.