Forest fires flare across southern Europe

LONDON (CNN) -- Fires raging across southern Europe have flared again forcing evacuations in Corsica and road closures in Croatia.

30 people were evacuated from the Corsican village of Vivario on Saturday night as fresh outbreaks came dangerously close to homes.

Firefighters on the Mediterranean island struggled to control fires on Sunday that have consumed more than 8,650 acres (3,500 hectares) of forest.

VIDEO CNN's Glenn Van Zutphen takes a look at the struggle to fight the wildfires Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

In Croatia, authorities closed sections of the Adriatic coastal road near the southern resort of Dubrovnik as fires raged in the region, state radio said on Sunday.

Firefighters, helped by volunteers, were still battling to contain several blazes that have burned large areas of forest and brush and threatened villages and resorts on the coast.

Their efforts were seriously hampered by strong offshore winds. One volunteer firefighter has been killed and several injured over the past few days.

Corsican firefighters faced similar challenges with at least 10 separate fires. More looked set to break out as the hot winds that have fanned the flames gained strength.

Another 300 firefighters were scheduled to arrive late on Sunday to help exhausted colleagues battle the fires that broke out in the Restonica forest near Corte.

The fires have raged for six days destroying woodland in Vizzavona, Ghisoni and near the island's main town, Ajaccio.

The Restonica blaze has destroyed at least 3,700 acres (1,500 hectares) of pines, chestnut and olive trees -- more than 25 percent of the scenic forest.

The Greek island of Corfu is still dealing with a fire emergency but devastating blazes on the Greek mainland have been contained.

Gusting winds have dropped off, helping firefighters contain the fires that killed seven people on Thursday and Friday, authorities said.

Fire chief Panagiotis Fourlas said firefighters had gained the upper hand at the Albanian border and in southern Arcadia province where the worst destruction occurred.

Following an appeal for international assistance, a 60-member fire crew from Israel joined the effort on Saturday.

Greece has had its worst fire season in decades.

Hundreds of fires have broken out around the country razing homes and sweeping across 370,500 acres of forest. Much of southern Europe has been ravaged by fires throughout the summer as a result of prolonged drought and heat wave.

Fire authorities in several countries have blamed arsonists for many fires.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Seven die in Greek wildfires
August 26, 2000
Gusty winds, dry conditions, lightning making Western wildfires unpredictable
August 26, 2000
Winds, temperature dip bring relief to scorched Europe
July 7, 2000
High temperatures sear southeastern Europe
July 6, 2000

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts - ECMWF

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