Smoke rises from a roof of a house after a wildfire broke out in a forest area in the northern Athenian suburb of Kalamos on Aug. 13, 2017. A major forest fire broke out in the suburbs of Athens on Sunday causing extensive damages, according to Athens News Agency. (Xinhua/Christos Bonis)
ATHENS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A major forest fire broke out in the suburbs of Athens on Sunday causing extensive damages, according to Athens News Agency.
Dozens of firemen were deployed in the northern suburb of Kalamos, trying to put out the blaze which broke out early afternoon, according to the local Fire Service.
They were assisted by fire engines, water dropping helicopters and Canadair aircrafts.
Due to the strong winds blowing in the area, the flames spread quickly posing threat to the inhabited area. The fires damaged several houses, local media reported.
Authorities said two camp areas near Kalamos have been evacuated but no people were in danger.
Firefighters struggle to manage the wildfire as the direction of the winds threaten to carry the fire front towards Kapandriti region.
Three other wildfires were reported in the suburbs of Athens on Sunday, but the firefighters managed to get the fire under control within a few hours.
Meanwhile, wildfires continue to burn forest area in the Ionian island of Zakynthos.
Authorities suspect the wave of wildfires raging since Friday noon to be the result of arson, according to a statement released by the Greek Fire Service.
Arson investigators have been dispatched to the island in the wake of eleven fires reported in the last 72 hours around various parts of the isle.
Greece suffers from scores of destructive wildfires each summer linked to high temperatures and arson in many cases.
