Greek authorities have ordered the evacuation of two settlements on Evia Island and deployed dozens of firefighters, planes, and helicopters to battle a major wildfire there.

In a statement, the country’s firefighting department said 88 firefighters and volunteers were working to extinguish the blaze. Eight firefighting aircraft and six helicopters have also been deployed to help the effort.

Strong northerly winds were causing new fires, the firefighting department said. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area considered a wildfire hotspot by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.