Kikilias thanks firefighters for 'awe-inspiring' efforts to put out fire in Evia

The efforts by land and air forces to put out the large fire that broke out in Evia on Wednesday were "awe-inspiring", Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said in a statement on Thursday.

Through their efforts throughout the night, he said, the fire was put out by Thursday morning, which appeared to be "theoretically impossible."

Kikilias' full statement was as follows:

"What our firefighters and Civil Protection achieved on Evia on Wednesday was theoretically impossible. It began with a fiery front within an area of pine forest. Our forces, by air and by land, carried out awe-inspiring efforts. The land forces were there throughout the night, and this morning there was no front. I have no words to thank them as well as the firefighters and the forces that fought at Aghia Marina today and restricted the fire within a few minutes, a fire that broke out in residential areas."