Two people have died while helping firefighters extinguish a forest fire that has forced the evacuation of several villages in a rugged mountain region in central Greece, authorities said.
The fire near Corinth, 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of Athens, was still burning on Monday, fanned by fierce winds.
Greek police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou said the recovered body was badly burned and required laboratory tests to confirm its identity.
Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry said the fire brigade had launched an investigation.
Smoke from fires that burned several homes and churches hovered over the capital throughout Monday.
Greece, like other southern European countries, is suffering from devastating summer forest fires due to global warming. This year the country experienced its hottest summer on record, following the warmest winter on record, which left many regions with little or no rain.
Over the past few months, authorities have had to deal with more than 4,500 wildfires in rural areas parched by prolonged drought and early summer heatwaves. This was considered the most dangerous wildfire season in 20 years.
