ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek firefighters managed to comprise on Sunday a wildfire that had raged uncontrolled in a single day on the Aegean island of Serifos, damaging homes and prompting the evacuation of a number of hamlets.

Dozens of firefighters with 15 fireplace engines battled to comprise the hearth, backed up by a water-carrying helicopter. It had damaged out amid low vegetation on Saturday and unfold rapidly, fanned by sturdy winds, the hearth brigade mentioned.

The wildfire, which at one level had raged throughout 15 kilometres (9.3 miles), broken vacation houses and storehouses, the island’s mayor, Kostas Revinthis, informed Greek tv.

With scorching, windy circumstances throughout a lot of the nation, dozens of wildfires broke out on Saturday and authorities suggested folks to avoid forested areas.

A wildfire in a mountainous forest space simply outdoors Athens had eased by Sunday morning however some 160 firefighters have been nonetheless engaged in extinguishing it, officers mentioned.

The sturdy winds usually are not anticipated to abate till in a while Sunday, meteorologists mentioned.

Wildfires are widespread within the Mediterranean nation however have grow to be extra devastating in recent times as summers have grow to be hotter, drier and windier, which scientists hyperlink to the results of local weather change.

After final summer season’s lethal forest fires and following its warmest winter on report, Greece developed a brand new doctrine, which incorporates deploying an additional fireplace engine to every new blaze, dashing up air assist and clearing forests.