BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Hundreds of firefighters are battling a major forest fire on ’s eastern Aegean island of Chios. The fire has ravaged forests, agricultural land and groves of the island’s famed mastic trees for the third day.

Residents of nine villages and hamlets evacuated their homes over the weekend as a precaution. Authorities say the fire has destroyed about 7,000 hectares of forest and farmland.

Meanwhile, is facing its worst wildfires in a decade. More than three times as much forest has burned so far this year than in the whole of 2011, with the weather dryer and hotter than last year. According to the Environment Ministry, around 50,000 hectares of land were destroyed in the first five months of 2012, making this year the worst since 2002.

(Source: CNTV.cn)