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| At least 20 dead in Greece as wildfires rage out of control | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 20 people have been killed as two forest fires rage out of control near the Greek capital of Athens, a government spokesman said early on Tuesday. | |
| The country’s worst fires for more than a decade flared in two areas close to the capital, destroying homes and disrupting transport links. | |
| The government spokesman did not give any more details abvout where the deaths occurred but on Monday a witness saw at least four dead on a road in the community of Mati about 29km (18 miles) east of Athens on Monday. The popular tourist destination was devastated by the fast-moving blaze that started at about 5pm local time. | |
| One victim was in a car, another beneath a vehicle, the witness said. Two people died on a motor bike in what appeared to be a traffic queue heading to the safe haven of a nearby beach. | One victim was in a car, another beneath a vehicle, the witness said. Two people died on a motor bike in what appeared to be a traffic queue heading to the safe haven of a nearby beach. |
| There were several reports of missing persons, including four tourists from Denmark. At least 56 people were injured, health officials said. | There were several reports of missing persons, including four tourists from Denmark. At least 56 people were injured, health officials said. |
| The health ministry confirmed three more deaths. Greek authorities urged residents of a coastal region near Athens to abandon their homes as the fires spread on Monday closing one of Greece’s busiest motorways, halting trains and sending plumes of smoke over the capital. | |
| By the late afternoon, a large fire had also broken out north and east of Athens. A local mayor said he saw at least 100 homes and 200 cars engulfed in flames. | By the late afternoon, a large fire had also broken out north and east of Athens. A local mayor said he saw at least 100 homes and 200 cars engulfed in flames. |
| The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, cut short an official visit in Bosnia, and said the government would do “whatever is humanly possible” to control the fires. | The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, cut short an official visit in Bosnia, and said the government would do “whatever is humanly possible” to control the fires. |
| Authorities deployed firefighters and equipment from across Greece to deal with the blaze at Kineta, a small resort town about 54km (35 miles) west of Athens on a route used by tens of thousands of drivers daily to reach the Peloponnese peninsula. | Authorities deployed firefighters and equipment from across Greece to deal with the blaze at Kineta, a small resort town about 54km (35 miles) west of Athens on a route used by tens of thousands of drivers daily to reach the Peloponnese peninsula. |
| A senior fire chief went on state TV to appeal to people to leave the area after some tried to stay at their properties. | A senior fire chief went on state TV to appeal to people to leave the area after some tried to stay at their properties. |
| “People should leave, close up their homes and just leave. People cannot tolerate so much smoke for so many hours,” Achilleas Tzouvaras said. “This is an extreme situation.” | “People should leave, close up their homes and just leave. People cannot tolerate so much smoke for so many hours,” Achilleas Tzouvaras said. “This is an extreme situation.” |
| Strong winds fanned towering walls of flames stretching as wide as four miles (6km) near Kineta, local officials said. Dozens of homes were thought to have been damaged or destroyed by the blaze. Some householders used hosepipes to try to put out the fires while police assisted with the evacuation of some areas. | Strong winds fanned towering walls of flames stretching as wide as four miles (6km) near Kineta, local officials said. Dozens of homes were thought to have been damaged or destroyed by the blaze. Some householders used hosepipes to try to put out the fires while police assisted with the evacuation of some areas. |
| The main Athens to Corinth motorway, one of two road routes to the Peloponnese peninsula, was shut and train services were cancelled. | The main Athens to Corinth motorway, one of two road routes to the Peloponnese peninsula, was shut and train services were cancelled. |
| Raging around the Saronicos gulf, the blaze ravaged tracts of pine forest and was visible for miles. An cloud of black and orange smoke hung over the Acropolis hill and the Parthenon temple in Athens on Monday afternoon. | Raging around the Saronicos gulf, the blaze ravaged tracts of pine forest and was visible for miles. An cloud of black and orange smoke hung over the Acropolis hill and the Parthenon temple in Athens on Monday afternoon. |
| The inferno was thought to have started in a ravine in mountains overlooking Kineta, which is a popular resort town among Athenians. | The inferno was thought to have started in a ravine in mountains overlooking Kineta, which is a popular resort town among Athenians. |
| East of Athens, live footage showed thick plumes of smoke hanging low over Rafina, which has a population of at least 20,000 and dense vegetation. | East of Athens, live footage showed thick plumes of smoke hanging low over Rafina, which has a population of at least 20,000 and dense vegetation. |
| “I personally saw at least 100 homes in flames,” said Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the Rafina-Pikermi area. “I saw it with my eyes, it is a real total catastrophe.” | “I personally saw at least 100 homes in flames,” said Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the Rafina-Pikermi area. “I saw it with my eyes, it is a real total catastrophe.” |
| Wildfires are common in Greece in summer, but a dry winter has created tinderbox conditions. | Wildfires are common in Greece in summer, but a dry winter has created tinderbox conditions. |
| Dozens of people died when fires raged for days across the Peloponnese in 2007. Last November, more than 20 people were killed in flash flooding in the area of Mandra near Kineta. | Dozens of people died when fires raged for days across the Peloponnese in 2007. Last November, more than 20 people were killed in flash flooding in the area of Mandra near Kineta. |
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