Greece wildfire leaves two dead as firefighters struggle to contain blaze

Two people have been found dead as an out-of-control wildfire burns in northern Greece, forcing residents of a nearby village to evacuate.

The body of a man was discovered in a charred area near Liti, about 15km (nine miles) north-west of the city of Thessaloniki. A second body – yet to be identified – was found later in a house in a forested area near the village.

A woman rescued near the house with burn injuries is now said to be in a stable condition in hospital. A 12-year-old child is also reported missing.

More than 100 firefighters, dozens of fire engines and at least seven aircraft are trying to contain the fire, reportedly facing a wall of flame some 5km long and still spreading.

The cause of the blaze, which broke out at about 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT) on Tuesday and quickly spread to a nearby forest, has not yet been determined.

The region was under a high wildfire risk warning, with dry conditions and high winds making it harder to contain the fire and causing repeated flare-ups.

Residents in Liti were urged to flee their homes while Greek broadcaster ERT reported a small number of properties had been damaged by the fire, which was spreading towards the nearby village of Melissochori on Tuesday evening.

The reported missing child is believed to be the son of the man found dead earlier and the injured woman.

It is Greece’s latest forest fire in recent days as it heads towards its peak tourist season. Wildfires have become a common occurrence for the country during summers of regular droughts and heatwaves.