Wildfires rage on Greek island

A state of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Chios where five separate forest fires burn and are extinct by strong winds.

Residents of 17 communities were evacuated and an investigation into a criminal fire was launched in what caused the starting of the various fronts is so shortly.

Three forest fires broke out in the areas of Coofinas,, Agia Anna And Agios Makarios. A fourth fire broke out shortly after midnight Agios Markosfollowed by a fifth front Monday morning Agiasmata.

The fire has already damaged houses, cultures and infrastructure on Aegean island, the local media indicating that several houses were destroyed.

There is a moderate high temperature warning on Chios, with summits of around 30 ° C, but it should become warmer towards the end of the week.

About 190 firefighters operated on the island, supported by 11 planes and helicopters. 90 additional firefighters should also arrive from Athens and Thessaloniki, the authorities said.

Photos of the island show residents who try to help firefighters, throw buses of water on flames and use clothes to try to type smaller spots.

The local media reported significant damage to a number of houses and at least a distillery, some residents saying that they had not been able to return to see if their property had been damaged.

The Minister of the Climate Crimate and Civil Protection Ioannis Kefalogiannis went to Chios and declared after an emergency meeting that he was “disturbed and concerned” by the triggering of several fires in different parts of the “without clear” island.

“This is something that must be studied thoroughly,” he added.

Meanwhile, a team from the fire -fire investigation unit, working alongside local police, launched an investigation into what caused fires.

The local electrical network has been damaged by fires, causing breakdowns in the wider region of Vrontados. Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network (HEDNO) teams were sent from the neighboring island of Lesvos to make repairs.

Certain planned electricity cuts have also been introduced to support fire -fighting operations.

Water supply problems and infrastructure damage has also been reported.

This is the first major forest fire this summer for Greece, which is no stranger to devastating fires and extreme heat.

On Chios, an intense forest fire in 2012 destroyed more than half of the emblematic putty of the island – a tree resin used in the kitchen and pharmaceutical products – disturbing the global supply of so -called “tears of chios”.