A dozen homes burn, five hospitalized in Greece forest fire

By AFP 31 July 2021, 10:08 pm

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Around a dozen homes burn and five people are hospitalized with breathing problems, as firefighters fight a forest fire near Patras, Greece’s third largest city, authorities say.

Some 145 firefighters, 50 trucks, eight firefighting planes and helicopters have been mobilized to extinguish the fire in the Zeria region in the Peloponnese, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) west of Athens, the firefighting service says.

The authorities evacuated people from four villages in the region as well as from the tourist resort of Loggos on the coast.

Hospitals in Patras and the neighboring city of Aigio had been put on notice to admit any injured people, while the coastguard have been on standby to rescue any swimmers overcome by smoke.