Patras makes progress fighting wildfires

Firefighters in Greece gained ground yesterday against a wildfire outside the third-largest city of Patras, while water bombers battled blazes on three other fronts.

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The situation in the country's main port to Italy was much improved after an overnight struggle, fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in a televised address.

Firefighters in Patras were facing “scattered” pockets but the fire was “still active” in the eastern outskirts of the city of over 200,000, he said.

Officials on Wednesday had evacuated a children’s hospital and a retirement home as the fire had moved dangerously close to the western Greek city.

Other important fires continued to burn yesterday on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, the Aegean island of Chios and near the western city of Preveza, the spokesman said.

Some 600 ground crews and nearly 30 water bombing aircraft were deployed from dawn in all locations.

Reduced wind intensity was aiding firefighting efforts.