[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] A wildfire broke out on the famous Greek resort island of Lesbos, forcing hundreds of tourists and residents to evacuate.
According to foreign media, the wildfire started around 10 a.m. on the 23rd (local time) and spread to the beach villages of Vatera and Varisa.
Thick columns of smoke formed by the wildfire spread toward the sea, blocking sunlight, and the fire spread to within a few meters of houses, causing residents to flee urgently.
Local police reported that 450 people evacuated from two hotels and 92 houses in Vatera. Fire authorities deployed seven fire trucks and one helicopter to control the flames.
In some parts of Greece, temperatures soared up to 42 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about additional wildfires. The Greek meteorological agency forecasted a heatwave lasting ten days nationwide starting from that day.
Greece suffers significant wildfire damage every year. Last year, due to the heatwave and wildfires, 103,000 hectares (1,030 km²), equivalent to 1.7 times the area of Seoul, were destroyed, and three people died.
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