A fierce wildfire broke out in Zerbisia, Messenia, in the south-western Peloponnese, shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday. Four small villages were evacuated as a precautionary measure as flames were very near the houses. No injuries or burnt houses have been reported but the blaze has damaged forested areas and large extenses of olive groves.

The fire was initially divided on two fronts, one of which posed a threat to Ancient Messene – an elaborate ancient city built in 269 B.C. by the Theban general Epameinondas. The other front was less dangerous and moving westward. A third front was reported at 5 p.m. on Monday in the area of Asoutena, near Trifylia.

Fire-fighting forces were deployed against all fronts and arrived from all areas of the Peloponnese to assist, managing to prevent the fire from destroying the antiquities. The Municipality and the army also sent water trucks and manpower and many volunteers also rushed to assist in the fire-fighting efforts beign coordinated by the Fire Brigade’s Deputy Support Chief Lieutenant General Haralambos Afalis.

90 firefighters with 38 fire engines and 58 volunteers along with 50 soldiers whereas water-bombing aircraft as helicopters struggled to keep the flames away from homes, according to the Fire Brigade.

So far 2,000 acres have been destroyed in Messinia.

Fires around the rest of Greece

Another fire was also underway in Panagitsa, Arcadia in the Peloponnese, and six fire-engines, 12 firemen and two PZL aircraft were trying to put out the flames. The fire of Kalabaka, Thessaly, is raging for the second day with 61 firemen and 29 fire engines battling the flames, whereas another front is open at Kyrgiaki Livadeia, Viotia.