Tragic forest fire claims lives in central Greece

A deadly forest fire fueled by strong winds has killed two people in the central Greek region of Corinth, authorities reported Monday.

Hundreds of firefighters, supported by nine aircraft, battled the blaze that broke out near the coastal town of Xylokastro on Sunday. The fire, which occurred about 120 km (75 miles) west of Athens, led to the evacuation of several villages. A police spokeswoman, Constantina Dimoglidou, confirmed that the recovered bodies were badly burned and laboratory tests were needed for identification.

The Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection announced that the fire department had opened an investigation. After the warmest winter on record, Greece is experiencing its hottest summer on record, leaving many areas with little or no rainfall.

(With contributions from agencies.)