After destroying around 20 houses, “the fire’s front is now heading towards Lalas,” a wooded mountainous area to the north west of Olympia, local official Nektarios Farmakis told the ANA news agency. Olympia, usually thronging with tourists at this time of year, as well as six nearby villages, were evacuated the day before.
A similar number of firefighters were also battling to contain a blaze on Evia, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) east of Athens. At least 150 houses were destroyed on the island as the fire surrounded a monastery and a dozen villages. Two more villages were evacuated early on Thursday.
