Athens (AFP)

The Greek authorities reported progress on Friday in the fight against the fire that ravaged for four days the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, reducing to smoke over 2,400 hectares of pine forest.

"The situation seems better today, there is no active front but our forces remain on the spot," said a spokesman for firefighters AFP, referring however "pockets of fire" remaining in a ravine.

The fire, which broke out Tuesday at 3:00 am (00H00 GMT) near a nature reserve, destroyed more than 2,400 hectares, including 1,000 pine forests, according to an estimate quoted by the Greek agency ANA .

The incident particularly affected the Agrilitsa forest, a 550-hectare nature reserve. "This is the second time that this wild and virgin forest is burned, for the moment we do not know what proportion is destroyed and what species are affected," said Yiannis Tsironis, former Minister Delegate Environment.

"We should have a clearer estimate of the exact damage on Monday," spokesman Spyros Georgiou told AFP.

The wind has weakened on Friday and rain is expected Saturday on the island of Euboea, which should facilitate the work of firefighters.

But "the perimeter that needs to be monitored is vast," added Georgiou.

Nearly 400 firefighters, assisted by 110 vehicles, nine planes and four helicopters water bombers were still struggling Friday morning to overcome this disaster on land with dense vegetation, rugged terrain and difficult access.

Three water bombers from the European fleet, two from Italy and one from Spain, lent their support. But with the improvement of the situation, all three aircraft had to be removed from operations in the evening.

"There have been tremendous efforts (to contain the fire), superhuman efforts," said Skai TV Costas Bakoyannis, the outgoing regional governor. Fire soldiers managed to block fire in a ravine near the village of Platana.

The 500 or so residents of four evacuated villages were all able to return to their homes on Friday, according to the ANA. The fire did not kill anyone, except for a firefighter hospitalized for burns. No serious material damage is to be deplored, except four cars burned, even if some houses were approached by the flames.

An investigation has been opened into the origin of the incident. Officials from the criminal section of the fire department reportedly found clues such as jerrycans and piles of branches and woods, the daily Kathimerini reported, adding that three residents were being interrogated.

The fire took place almost simultaneously at three different locations about 1.5 kilometers from the village of Macrymalli, suggesting criminal intent, the ANA added.

Two Greeks suspected of lighting one or more fires were arrested Thursday in the Peloponnese.

From north to south, Greece has been affected in recent days by a series of fires under the combined effect of heat waves, high winds and drought.

Some have raided the islands of Thassos (north) or Elafonissos (south), near Athens, or in the regions of Boeotia (center-west) and Peloponnese (south). Two others came out Thursday in the south of the country and on the island of Zante (west).

© 2019 AFP