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Wildfire burns coastal homes in Greek island Lesbos

A picture taken on July 23, 2022 shows fire burning trees near houses at Vatera coastal resort on the eastern island of Lesbos. Residents were evacuated as the wilfire threatened properties. (MANOLIS LAGOUTARIS / AFP)

ATHENS – A wildfire that started in mountainous forests on the Greek island of Lesbos near Türkiye on Saturday burned properties at the beach resort of Vatera as more aircraft joined firefighting efforts.

A wildfire in mountains near Athens earlier this week damaged homes and forced hundreds of people to flee, with authorities calling this summer one of the toughest in the Mediterranean

Authorities earlier ordered the evacuation of the Aegean sea resort as the wildfire approached dangerously close, fanned by strong winds.

ALSO READ: Wildfire rages near Athens; homes damaged, hospital evacuated

Thick billowing smoke could be seen in the area. One fleeing resident told state TV ERT that her home was on fire.

Vatera, an 8 km long sandy beach in the southern part of Lesbos, is a popular tourist spot. Lesbos was at the forefront of Europe's refugee crisis six years ago.

Homes were burned and one firefighter was injured as the blaze engulfed Vatera, with flames damaging a beach bar and burning sun umbrellas.

ALSO READ: Out-of-control wildfire burns 19,000 hectares in Spain

Greece is suffering a second consecutive summer of wildfires this year.

A wildfire in mountains near Athens earlier this week damaged homes and forced hundreds of people to flee, with authorities calling this summer one of the toughest in the Mediterranean. 

Last year, wildfires ravaged about 300,000 acres of forest and bushland across Greece during the country's worst heatwave in 30 years.