Firefighters battled a large forest fire in southern Greece with firefighting planes and helicopters Friday.
The forest fire in the Lakonia area on the tip of Greece's southern Peloponnese grew significantly due to the steep terrain, hot and dry conditions and strong erratic winds which continue to fuel the fire. These variables also play a role in firefighting efforts for both air and ground support.
Three villages were evacuated while a coast guard vessel and other nearby boats were heading to a bay where an estimated 100 people had sought refuge from the flames.
Around 120 firefighters, 30 soldiers, multiple emergency vehicles and water-dropping planes and helicopters were dispatched to the contain the fire.
One of the seven water-dropping planes battling the blaze had to make an emergency landing but the two pilots were not hurt.