Forest fire leads to home evacuations

A large wildfire in has damaged homes and prompted evacuations as it tore through rugged forest terrain.

Fire service officials said eight water-dropping planes and three helicopters were involved in a bid to try to contain the blaze some 45 miles west of Athens, outside the resort town of Loutraki.

Overnight and early yesterday, authorities issued evacuation orders for six settlements, in an area with many holiday homes.