Two dead in forest fire in Greece

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A forest fire in central Greece killed two men who were helping firefighters fight the blaze, authorities said Monday.

The fire near Corinth, 140 kilometers west of Athens, has forced several villages to evacuate.

Anastasios Giolis, the deputy governor of Corinth, told public broadcaster ERT that two men had been killed fighting the flames, calling it a “tragic accident.”

According to media reports, the men's charred bodies were found near the village of Ellinikon.

Two firefighters were slightly injured, the fire department told AFP.

The fire broke out on Sunday and spread quickly due to strong winds, making it “difficult to control,” the fire department said.

Five locations near the fire were ordered to evacuate, including Pyrgos, Elliniko and Kallithea.

According to the fire department, 15 vehicles, seven water bombers and three helicopters were used to fight the fire on Sunday.

Numerous regions of Greece were placed under an orange fire alert on Sunday and Monday due to wind speeds of 50 to 75 kilometers per hour.

Fires occurred daily in Greece's summer wildfire season this year after the Mediterranean country recorded its warmest winter and hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960.

In August, a major fire near Marathon, 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, killed one person and forced thousands to flee their homes.

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