ATHENS — Firefighters are facing 55 fire fronts throughout the country on Saturday, Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said on Saturday afternoon at a live briefing.

Firefighting forces are trying to contain the several fire pockets that have rekindled in northern Attica on Saturday. Although these seem to be stabilizing, hundreds of firefighters are seeking to contain these scattered fire pockets by Saturday evening before nightfall, he added.

The several rekindlings at Mt. Parnitha observed on Saturday are so far being dealt with successfully, he noted.

The situation with the fires at Aghios Stefanos and Pefkofyto in northern Attica continues to improve, he added, while the large fire fronts that crossed over to Malakassa via the national highway has been dealt with, he noted.

Regarding the fires at Evia island, he said that all available firefighting forces are making every effort to reduce the large fire there. Some 39 communities have so far been evacuated at Evia, where the situation is still critical.

A great number of rekindlings are also being dealt with at Fokida prefecture on Saturday, and at the municipality of Ancient Olympia.

Countries sending firefighters included France, Cyprus, the Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland, as well as France and Cyprus.