A wildfire raging on the Greek island of Paros forced authorities to evacuate five villages overnight, with emergency alerts sent to residents as flames swept through dry vegetation and threatened scattered homes, officials say.
Emergency messages were sent to residents of Agkairia shortly after 1:30 a.m., directing them to Alyki beach.
A second alert at 2:15 a.m. ordered residents of Trypiti, Aspro Chorio, Glyfa and Pyrgaki to evacuate toward Drios.
Civil Protection authorities had already evacuated five villages — Agios Charalambos, Kambi, Bougados and Anerazia — starting at midday Tuesday, with a further evacuation order issued for the Kamari area at 3:28 p.m.
According to local outlet Parianostypos, flames came within close range of homes and monasteries in Agios Charalambos.
The fire has moved through the Angeria area toward Trypiti, while a separate front remains uncontained near Fragka.
Some 66 firefighters, four forest commando units from Attica's 1st Special Firefighting Force and 16 vehicles are battling the blaze, backed by reinforcements from Syros, Naxos and Piraeus, along with volunteers and municipal resources.
Strong, shifting north winds of up to four on the Beaufort scale have complicated containment efforts, along with olive groves in the fire's path.
The Fire Service's deputy chief is coordinating the operation. Additional reinforcements — 20 firefighters and eight vehicles — were being ferried from Rafina, with aerial firefighting units expected to resume operations at daybreak.
No flames have yet reached residential areas, and no injuries have been reported.