In Pictures

Greek island of Evia torched by wildfire

Local villages evacuated as wildfire on Greece’s second-largest island causes inestimable damage to wildlife sanctuary.

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas — Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near the village of Makrimalli. [Costas Baltas/Reuters]

Firefighters battled to contain a wildfire that has threatened local communities and caused major damage to the 550-hectare wildlife habitat of Agrilitsa on the Greek island of Evia.

The fire that broke out in the early hours of Tuesday on Greece‘s second-largest island prompted the evacuation of the villages of Kontodespoti, Makrymalli, Stavros and Platana, and threatened the town of Psachna, officials said.

One firefighter was hospitalised after suffering burns and the area faced power outages and water cuts on Wednesday, residents said.

Greece has been hit by a spate of wildfires fanned by strong winds and high temperatures, with more than 1,000 firefighters assigned to the blazes.

Firemen and residents try to extinguish a forest fire in Makrimalli village, on the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Greece Tu — The fire on the island of Evia prompted the evacuation of four villages. [Yorgos Karahalis/AP Photo]

Locals watch a fire-fighting plane dropping water over a wildfire near the village of Stavros, on the Greek Evia island on August 14, 2019. - Hundreds of villagers were evacuated on August 13 and the — Locals watch a firefighting plane drop water over the wildfire near the village of Stavros. [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]

A volunteer tries to save a goat during a forest fire in the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, on August 14, 2019. - Hundreds of villagers were evacuated on August 13 a — Greece has deployed nearly 400 firefighters to try to put out the huge blaze on the island. [Angelos Tzortziniz/AFP]

Firefighters try to extinguish flames outside a house in Agrilitsa village on the Greek island of Evia, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Greece Tuesday, with the l — Firefighters try to extinguish the flames outside a house in Agrilitsa village. [Dimitris Kapadais/InTime News via AP]

A firefighting helicopter drops water over a forest fire in Makrimalli village, on the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Greece — Greece has been hit by a spate of wildfires fanned by strong winds and high temperatures. [Yorgos Karahalis/AP Photo]

Firefighters battle a forest fire near the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, 14 August 2019. The firefighting forces struggled throughout the night to save the four villages that we — More than 1,000 firefighters are assigned to the blazes across Greece. [Kostas Tsironis/EPA]

Firefighters remove burnt trees after a wildfire near the village of Makrimalli, on the Greek Evia island on August 14, 2019. - Hundreds of villagers were evacuated on August 13 and the Greek prime mi — 'Conditions are exceptionally difficult and the state's first priority is to protect lives,' said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]

Burned cars are seen following a wildfire near the village of Stavros on the island of Evia, Greece, August 14, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas — One firefighter was hospitalised after suffering burns, though no other serious injuries have been reported. [Costas Baltas/Reuters]

A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as a wildfire burns in the village of Makrimalli on the island of Evia, Greece, August 14, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas — Officials are as still unable to fully estimate the extent of the damage. [Costas Baltas/Reuters]