Sidirokastro

A tourist bus from Bulgaria was completely destroyed on Thursday by fire that broke out while travelling on a secondary road in the region of Serres, in northern Greece. 

The driver immediately stopped the bus and passengers disembarked safely, state run broadcaster ERT reported. It was not immediately lear what caused the fire. 

Two firemen were injured while battling a large blaze that started earlier on Wednesday in a forested area of Sidirokastro, in eastern Mani, in the Peloponnese, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.

Twenty eight firefighters with 14 vehicles and two crews on foot were on the scene, helped by two Canadair and two Pezetel aircraft, but strong winds were hampering their efforts.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has been conducting direct sales of natural gas to final consumers in Greece since late December, changing the landscape of the domestic market.

Authorities of Sidirokastro, Serres, northern Greece confirmed the death of a 48-year-old man who was trapped in his car when it was swept away by the floods.

The man, father of one child, was returning home late at night from a local night club when he was trapped in his car, according to information.

A 49-year-old schoolteacher from Serres, northern Greece, who has been accused of sexually abusing one of his pupils was remanded in custody on Monday.

The teacher is accused of assaulting the girl, now aged 14, between the summer of 2011 and May this year.

He denies the charges but will be temporarily held at Sidirokastro police station.