A wildfire broke out in a forested area of Lourdata on the island of Kefalonia early on Saturday, forcing local authorities to call for an evacuation of the tourist area.
According to Kefaloniapress.gr, a large firefighting force is operating, trying to contain the blaze. A total of 36 firefighters with twelve vehicles and a group of six hikers have been deployed, along with volunteers and water vehicles.
The fire spread fast, due to the very strong north winds that have hit Greece since the early hours on Saturday. Gales that reach up to force 9 on the Beaufort scale.
Even though the fire has not reached homes or businesses, authorities have ordered the evacuation of nearby hotels and houses in fear that the unpredictable blaze could cause more serious damage especially with gale winds not assisting firefighters and volunteers in containing the fire.
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