Two people have died in a forest fire in southern Greece

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities said two people died in a large forest fire near a seaside resort in southern Greece overnight.

According to the fire department, about 350 firefighters, supported by eight water-dropping aircraft, managed to bring the fire near Xylokastro in the Peloponnese region largely under control early Monday.

After the fire broke out on Sunday, half a dozen villages were ordered to be evacuated overnight as a precautionary measure. The flames were fanned by very strong winds blowing through forests that were tin-dry due to a warm spring and hot summer.

Authorities said the two dead were believed to be local residents who were reported missing late Sunday. No one else was believed to be missing.

There were no immediate reports of burned homes in the affected area, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) southwest of Athens.

Like other southern European countries, Greece is hit by devastating forest fires every summer. In recent months, authorities have had to deal with more than 4,500 forest fires.