Greece sends hundreds of firefighters to fight forest fires

Firefighters are trying to contain forest fires on the Greek island of Chios, where more people in the villages have been evacuated.

This is reported by the Reuters news agency.

Approximately 190 firefighters are on the scene receiving air support from aircraft and helicopters.

Greece will also send 171 more firefighters to the island to help.

– The situation remains critical as firefighters deal with the advanced fire, which in several places lies close to villages, says government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.

Firefighters are trying to keep the fire away from both homes and areas known for resin production. It is a resin that can be used for cooking and, for example, the beauty industry.

The many whirlpools today have affected the firefighting work. Both forests and grasslands have been burned.

Greek authorities have this year, put a record number of firefighters to work, about 18,000 around the country, in anticipation of a difficult fire season.

This comes after several years in which the country has felt both the environmental and economic consequences of a relatively large number of forest fires, which scientists say have been caused by climate change.

Greece has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and agriculture for damage caused by the severe weather.

The purchase of new firefighting equipment has also been a major expense in Greece.