Wildfire reaches sea in western Greece
Authorities ordered the evacuation of several villages and beach towns as the fire crossed over the highway connecting Athens to Patras, Greece's third largest city, and cutting the area in two.
Thick black smoke choked the coastal resort town of Labiri and the sky turned orange as firefighting helicopters and a fire service boat dowsed the flames.
The fire broke out in the hills of Ziria, about 30 kilometres east of Patras, and quickly spread downwards towards the coast.
145 firefighters, aided by 8 helicopters, eight planes, and one fire service boat battled the blazes, which burned on multiple fronts.
