Dirfys

A large wildfire broke out in the Pissona area of Evia Island on Wednesday, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of four settlements.

Initially, a precautionary evacuation order was issued only for the settlement of Afrati, with residents instructed to evacuate toward Vasiliko.

Over 40,000 hectares were destroyed in wildfires the three days from August 19 to 21, according to a report by the National Observatory of Athens.

As authorities assess the damage wrought by the heavy rainstorms and floods a few days ago in parts of central and northern Greece, a state of emergency has been declared for the municipalities on the island of Evia and in the regional unit Thessaloniki that were hardest hit. 

A monastery was evacuated and the residents of three villages were told to be ready to leave after a big fire broke out in a forested area of central Evia early Tuesday morning.

Police on the island of Evia on Tuesday announced the arrest of a 59-year-old man who was found in possession of objects that he had allegedly removed from an ancient grave.
A police statement said that officers made the arrest on Monday in the municipality of Dirfys-Messapia.