Greece is battling more than 20 forest fires, including one that threatens the third-largest city of Patras, as heat fuels the flames and forces thousands of people to flee their homes in southern Europe.

Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans, and the UK have been hit hard this week by high temperatures that are fueling forest fires, which scientists say are getting worse because of climate change caused by humans.

From early dawn today, 4,850 firefighters and 33 aircraft were mobilized across Greece for what was shaping up to be a "very difficult day," said fire department spokesman Vasilis Vatrakochiannis.

A fire near the ancient Mycenaean archaeological site of Voudini, just seven kilometers from Patras, threatened wooded areas and homes, and the area was covered in thick smoke, an AFP journalist reported.

Strong winds "are hampering the work of water-carrying aircraft and making it more difficult to collect water from the sea," firefighter union president Kostas Tsigkas told state television ERT.

In the western Peloponnese, where the coastal city of Patras is located, about 20 villages were evacuated on August 12.

Other fires burned on the popular tourist island of Zakynthos and on the Aegean island of Chios, which was ravaged by a huge forest fire in June that destroyed over 4,000 hectares.

The Greek coast guard said it had helped evacuate nearly 80 people from Chios and near Patras.

The National Emergency Service reported 52 people hospitalized in Achaia, Chios, and the western city of Preveza, including "a small number of firefighters," mostly with respiratory problems and minor burns.

Temperatures today will reach nearly 40°C in parts of western Greece, including the northwestern Peloponnese, according to the national meteorological service EMY.

After Greece requested four water-carrying aircraft from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster its resources, the left-wing opposition party Syriza criticized the conservative government for its preparedness for the fires that break out every year.

Greece needs a "bold reallocation of resources in favor of civil protection," "a focus on prevention," better coordination, and new technologies in the civil protection system, Syriza said. | BGNES