Major wildfire on Greek island of Paros forces evacuation of nine settlements

A major wildfire erupted on the Greek island of Paros on Tuesday afternoon, continuing to burn out of control through the night and prompting the evacuation of nine settlements. As dawn broke on Wednesday, additional ground and air forces were deployed to combat the blaze, according to the Greek news agency ANA.

Authorities remain concerned that increasingly strong winds could hamper firefighting efforts and further fuel the fire's spread. Residents of Trypiti, Glyfa, Pyrgaki, and Aspro Choria were instructed to evacuate towards Dryos early Wednesday. Earlier warnings had already ordered the evacuation of Agkairia towards Alyki beach. The settlements of Agios Charalambos, Kampi, Bougados, Aneratza, and Kamari were evacuated on Tuesday afternoon.

The firefighting operation involves 66 firefighters, supported by four specialized forest firefighting units from Attica and 16 fire engines. Two Canadair water-bombing aircraft and five helicopters resumed aerial firefighting missions at dawn. Volunteers and teams from Paros are assisting with water tankers and heavy machinery, while the deputy chief of the fire service is overseeing the overall response. Reinforcements, including 20 more firefighters and eight fire engines, are en route from Rafina port via ferry.

Greece's fire risk forecast map for Wednesday classified Paros island at a high level three, necessitating a state of heightened alert as authorities work to gain control of the wildfire. The situation remains critical as efforts to contain the fire continue amidst challenging weather conditions.