Greece Battles Large Wildfire on Chios Island with Over 100 Firefighters and Air Support

A major wildfire broke out on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, prompting the evacuation of a dozen areas and engaging the efforts of more than 100 firefighters, helicopters, and planes in a battle to contain the blaze. The fire department reported three separate blazes in the morning and mid-day on Sunday, which merged into one large fire fueled by strong winds. An arson investigation team has been dispatched to the island, and reinforcements have arrived from Athens and Thessaloniki.

Key Takeaways:

A large wildfire broke out on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with over 100 firefighters, 10 water-dropping helicopters, and 2 firefighting planes engaged to battle the blaze.
The fire department reported three separate blazes in the morning and mid-day on Sunday, which merged into one large fire fueled by strong winds.
Emergency services ordered the evacuation of a dozen areas as the fire spread.
The blaze was described as having "towering flames burning through woodland and farmland" by local media footage and photos.
Wildfires are a frequent occurrence in Greece during hot, dry summers, but authorities have linked climate change to an increase in larger and more frequent blazes.
A massive fire in 2018 in the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, resulted in over 100 deaths, including people who drowned while trying to flee the flames.
An arson investigation team has been dispatched to the island to investigate the cause of the fire.

Statistics:

100+ firefighters engaged in battling the wildfire on Chios island.
10 water-dropping helicopters provided air support until nightfall.
2 firefighting planes were used to combat the blaze.
12 areas were evacuated due to the spread of the fire.
More than 100 people died as a result of a 2018 wildfire in Mati, east of Athens.
2018: A massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, resulting in over 100 deaths.

Sources:

Getty
BBC News, no date