Today, Sunday, August 2, wildfires are burning out of control in Greece, with two of the largest in the region of Porto Germeno and on the island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea, forcing evacuations, destroying homes, and prompting emergency responses as authorities battle blazes fueled by strong winds.

The severe fire near Porto Germeno, a seaside town on the Gulf of Corinth about 70km (43 miles) west of Athens, is raging out of control, with over 500 firefighters in attendance, including dozens of water tankers and extensive aerial support. Authorities sent three emergency alerts through Greece’s 112 system overnight, ordering hundreds of residents to evacuate the affected areas.

Reports are of extensive destruction, including numerous burned homes, fire engines destroyed by flames and dead animals found along roads.

The operation to combat the wildfire in Kefalonia continues for a second day in the southeast of the island, with successive evacuations of settlements being ordered.

According to authorities, the fire is moving towards the Mavrata area, while all available forces have been deployed to create a defence zone to prevent the front from advancing any further.

Update Sunday, 17:00 – Major fires in Porto Germeno, Boeotia, Southern Rethymno, Crete, Paros and Aegialia; firefighters, volunteers and residents are fighting devastating wildfires, under extremely difficult conditions. Gusty winds are causing continuous resurgences, making both ground operations and aerial firefighting difficult.

Regarding the mega-fire in western Attica, which started in Porto Germeno, it has spread to create a fire front 15 – 17 kilometres across. This morning, two Bell helicopters on fire duties in the area collided, each with a crew of two people comprising a Romanian pilot and a Greek coordinator. The crew of one helicopter has been located, and a rescue is underway; the fate of the crew of the second helicopter is at present unknown.