MACRYMALLI (Greece) (AFP)

The Greek firefighters were fighting Wednesday to overcome the violent fire that devastated Tuesday a nature reserve in Greece, on the island of Euboea, where the authorities already deplore "a huge ecological disaster."

The disaster, which evolves on a front of 12 km, did not make a victim but caused the evacuation of four villages located on the island, the second by its size after Crete, located at a hundred km at the northeast of Athens.

"It is a huge ecological disaster in a unique pine forest", which has remained "intact" to this day, lamented the outgoing regional governor Costas Bakoyannis.

Under the effect of gusts of wind, the fire that broke out on the road Tuesday at 3:00 am (00:00 GMT), quickly spread on the island with vegetation is very dense and dry and where find a reserve of wild fauna and flora.

The disaster caused the evacuation of the villages of Kontodespoti, Macrymalli, Stavros and Platana, in the center of the island, and threatened the city of Psachna during the night, the authorities said.

"From Psachna to Kontodespoti and Makrymalli, everything is burned, we are fortunate to have no casualties," said ANA spokesperson Thanassis Karakatzas, a civil protection official.

On a terrain of dense vegetation, rugged terrain and difficult access, the soldiers of the fire fought all night from the flames from 20 to 30 meters high, said a photographer from AFP.

"We should end the fire at the end of the day," Yiannis Razos, a local official, was quoted by the radio as saying.

But the flames have already reduced some of the Agrilistsa forest to smoke, causing invaluable damage in this 550-hectare nature reserve.

-Desolation show-

Garrigue in fire, pine turned into giant torches and charred bushes, the sinister Wednesday offered a spectacle of desolation, said a videographer of AFP.

On site, some 200 firefighters, helped by 75 land vehicles, nine helicopters and seven water bombers, managed to save the populated areas.

"We have managed to protect human lives and preserve homes," said Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisohoidis.

Residents reported cuts in water and electricity.

In Athens, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Action Christos Stylianides hailed an "exemplary" mobilization of Greek forces. "I think we can limit the ecological losses," he said, before referring to "tangible European solidarity".

An Italian water bomber was to lend a hand to the Greek firemen during the day, before the reinforcement expected in the evening of two planes from Spain and another from Italy. At the request of Greece, the EU has mobilized its resources from the rescue mechanism.

Greece has been affected in recent days by a series of fires under the combined effect of scorching temperatures, high winds and drought.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who cut short his holiday in Crete and was due to visit on Wednesday, paid tribute to the work of Greek fire and rescue services.

"I am aware that our firefighters have given everything, especially these last five days, they do not sleep and often do not eat," he said Tuesday night.

Another disaster that threatened the suburbs of Athens could be extinguished Monday, without casualties, while the tourist island of Elafonissos was for two days the prey of the flames.

On Saturday, two fires were fired around Marathon, north of Athens, a short distance from the resort of Mati, where 102 people perished a year ago, in the deadliest fire ever Greece.

© 2019 AFP