VOLOS — Strong fire-fighting forces have managed to contain and control a fire that broke out in Fytoko, on the outskirts of the city of Volos on Saturday afternoon.

The fire started north of the Thessaly University School of Agriculture, above the Volos bypass, and quickly spread due to the dry conditions, threatening residential areas.

Fire-fighting forces from Volos and the Volos industrial park were immediately deployed and assisted by two fire-fighting aircraft that took off from Nea Aghialos airport.

According to sources, some livestock trapped in a fenced plot of land have been burnt, as well as a shed and a prefabricated home. The fire was reported under partial control by 15:30 and local residents are in a safe location.

Major fire in Nea Styra on the island of Evia; village evacuated

A large fire broke out on Saturday in a forest at Nea Styra, in the Karystos area on the island of Evia. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Inhabitants of the village of Niborio had already started fleeing their homes by the time the first fire-fighting vehicles reached the fire and an evacuation was then ordered for safety reasons.

According to the initial information, the fire very grew quickly and spread to nearby woods close to the settlement due to very strong winds blowing in the area.

Fire-fighting forces are being sent from all over Evia and mainland Greece – from Livadia, Thiva and Lamia – as the strong winds did not allow the three aircraft sent to the area to get near enough to douse the flames from above.