ATHENS, June 30 (Xinhua) -- One man was found dead and a woman was injured in a wildfire raging near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday, the Greek Fire Service said.
The man's body was discovered by firefighters in the burned Derveni forest area, approximately 10 kilometers north of Thessaloniki, and a woman suffering from burns was rescued and taken to hospital, according to the Greek Fire Service.
More than 100 firefighters, assisted by water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, have been battling the blaze, which broke out around noon on Tuesday.
Strong winds have hampered firefighting efforts, pushing the flames toward the nearby village of Liti. Local authorities have issued an emergency alert urging residents to evacuate.
Greece has been regularly hit by destructive wildfires during summer, fueled by heatwaves, prolonged drought and strong winds. Authorities have also attributed some wildfires to arson.
According to the Greek Fire Service, a total of 48 wildfires broke out across the country during the 24 hours ending at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday.
