A massive forest fire continued to ravage Greece’s second-largest island for seventh day on Monday, destroying homes and businesses and sending thousands fleeing. The smoke and ash from the fire on Evia, which began on August 3, blocked out the sun and turned the sky orange. 

With roads on the island cut off, several residents and tourists fled to Evia’s beaches and jetties in order to be ferried to safety by ferries and boats that were organised by the coast guard.

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Among those who managed to flee was David Angelou, who recalled the ordeal. 

“We were completely forsaken. There were no fire brigades, there were no vehicles, nothing! You could feel the enormous heat, there was also a lot of smoke. You could see the sun, a red ball, and then, nothing else around,” he told Associated Press. 

Over the past week, several buildings have been destroyed or damaged, and at least 40,000 hectares (nearly 100,000 acres) have been burned. Amid this, firefighters continue to put their best efforts to save whatever they can from flames that have destroyed pristine forests.

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The causes of the blaze is yet to be determined, though several people have been arrested for alleged arson. 

Over 20 countries in Europe and the Mideast have responded to Greece’s call for help, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and manpower. On Monday, Greece’s Foreign Ministry tweeted that neighboring Turkey will be sending two firefighting planes. 

Greek authorities have issued dozens of evacuation orders and about 2,770 people had been evacuated by sea across the country between July 31 and Aug. 8. 

Not just Greece, wildfires were also burning in southern Italy, North Macedonia and Montenegro, where a large fire in the Malo Brdo district of the capital Podgorica was close to destroying homes on Monday.