ATHENS

Wildfires raged across Greece on Sunday, fueled by an extreme heat wave.

Speaking at an emergency press briefing, the Greek Fire Department's spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakoyannis said the situation on the island of Kythira remains critical, with the fire beginning on Saturday at noon and being dealt with by many firefighter teams, assisted by helicopters and planes.

Despite the best efforts of firefighters and aerial vehicles, the fire in Polythea, in Messinia's southwest region, remains active, he said.

Moreover, fires are still burning in the Molaoi region of Laconia, the Triada area of Evia, Temenia village in Crete's Hania town, and Pontokomi in the northern province of Kozani.

"Today is expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the country," Vathrakoyannis warned.

Meanwhile, Italy's Civil Protection Department announced that it will send two firefighting planes to Greece to help fight the wildfires.