A group of arson experts was dispatched by the Fire Department on Chios island, where it will join state security of the Greek police to investigate the fires that have led to several evacuations on the island as of midday.

The fire broke out around 11:40 in the Kofinas area and has been hard to manage due to very strong winds. The Fire Department said that three different fires broke out, at one-hour intervals, at Kofinas, Aghia Anna, and Aghios Makarios Vrontadou.

Firefighting forces have been nearly doubled, with 62 firefighters, a ground team, 23 fire trucks, 2 airplanes and 8 helicopters are involved in putting the fire out.

Through the emergency number 112, sent at various intervals since midday, a dozen communities have been evacuated, some toward Chios proper and some toward beaches like Karfas.