Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft were battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the Greek island of Chios on Tuesday after authorities declared a state of emergency. 

Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos.

Wildfire updates in Greece

By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. 

Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support.

Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island’s main town. 

Apocalyptic scenes captured in images and videos showed firefighters battling the flames as the wildfires raged on, while thick plumes of black smoke filled the sky. 

Other footage showed helicopters spraying water over smoke-filled fields. 

The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze.