Greece has requested EU aid to battle more than 100 forest fires fueled by strong winds and dry conditions.

This was announced by the fire department as the flames spread across southern Europe, AFP reported.

The most dangerous new outbreaks are on the popular tourist island of Zakynthos and in parts of western Greece, including the Achaea region in the Peloponnese, where 1,000 people have been evacuated.

The most dangerous new outbreaks are on the popular tourist island of Zakynthos and in parts of western Greece, including the Achaea region of the Peloponnese, where about 20 villages have been evacuated, the service said.

Given the escalating situation, Greece has requested four water bomber aircraft from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, said fire department spokesman Vasilis Vatrakogiannis.

Police are investigating the causes of the fires on suspicion of arson due to the large number of fires in western Greece.

Since last week, the country has been hit by strong winds reaching 88 kilometers per hour, which sparked a forest fire south of Athens, killing one person. The strong winds are expected to continue until August 14.

More than 22,000 hectares have burned in Greece this year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.

Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans are also battling forest fires, while southern Europe is affected by a heatwave—extreme weather conditions that scientists say are intensifying due to human-induced climate change. | BGNES