Strong winds fan several fires across Greece

Firefighters were battled blazes in different parts of the country on Tuesday though strong winds hampered their efforts.

A team of firemen managed to contain a blaze that broke out in the area of Palaiomanina near the city of Agrinio in western Greece in the morning, razing a large expanse of oak forest. Firefighters remained on the scene to avert a rekindling of the blaze.

Thirty firefighters manning 10 fire trucks were endeavoring to put out another blaze in Kalabaka, near Thessaly, central Greece, until late in the afternoon.

Meanwhile 26 firemen were fighting flames in Platania, near Drama, northern Greece, aided by 11 water-dropping aircraft.