Greece evacuates tourists as fires flare

ATHENS: Dozens of fires broke out at the weekend in Greece, causing thick plumes of smoke to drift over popular holiday regions.

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection said yesterday the country was still on high alert after firefighters had battled 56 fires the previous day.

The fires broke out on the historic Peloponnese peninsula, on the islands of Corfu and Samos, and on the mainland.

About 1 000 tourists had to be evacuated from five hotels in Pythagoreio on Samos due to the smoke, local media reported.

The coastguard also reportedly used its boats to bring dozens of people on the beach to safety. |