A wildfire is raging through forests on the Greek holiday island of Evia. Firefighters battled throughout the night to control the blaze, with water bombers waiting for dawn to rejoin the combat.

The fire broke out early Wednesday afternoon near the town of Aliveri. The smokes is clearly visible in Athens, about 55 kilometers to the southwest. At least two villages on Evia Island were evacuated, but some residents were later allowed back when the danger passed. A few farmers fields, warehouses and animal pens burned. There was no serious threat to homes.

More wildfires have broken out in southern Greece. Meteorologists predict temperatures in the country will rise above 40 degrees celsius in the next few days causing worries about new fires.

(CCTV July 24, 2009)