Italy, France and Cyprus said on Friday they were sending firefighting aircraft to help battle a massive
forest fire raging out of control for the fourth day on the Dodecannese island of Rhodes, reported dpa.
Officials said Italy was sending two firefighting aircraft and France two more to help battle the blaze. Cyprus said it was sending one helicopter which
was expected to arrive on the island later in the day.
Hundreds of firefighters and soldiers, with the assistance of Greek aircraft,
were fighting the flames which was approaching several mountain villages.
Authorities declared a state of disaster on the island, where dozens of homes
have been burned and at least 4,000 acres of forest destroyed.
At least two mountain villages in the region of Laerma have been evacuated
after the fire began destroying homes.
Another forest fire broke out Friday in the northern Peloponnese in the region
of Ahaia, forcing officials to cut off the Athens-Patras highway and the local
train service.
Greece had to battle hundreds of massive forest fires which broke out in
several areas last summer, killing a total of 84 people, including several
firefighters.
The most destructive and lethal of the infernos broke out at the end of August
in the western and southern Peloponnese as well as the southern island of Evia. dpa cp pmc