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Greece wildfires: Reports say at least 50 dead Greece wildfires: Reports say at least 50 dead
(35 minutes later)
At least 50 people are feared dead in wildfires burning near Athens, as Greece faces its worst fire crisis in more than a decade. At least 50 people are feared dead in wildfires burning in the Attica region around Athens, in Greece's worst fire crisis in more than a decade.
According to the Red Cross, 26 bodies were found in the yard of a villa in the seaside village of Mati, which is at the centre of the disaster.According to the Red Cross, 26 bodies were found in the yard of a villa in the seaside village of Mati, which is at the centre of the disaster.
Before news of the grim discovery, the official death toll stood at 24.Before news of the grim discovery, the official death toll stood at 24.
Emergency workers have used boats and helicopters to evacuate people from a beach. As part of a huge rescue effort, emergency workers used boats and helicopters to evacuate a beach.
The authorities are seeking international assistance. A search-and-rescue operation is being conducted for 10 tourists who fled one of the fires in a boat, officials say.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes and some people have left their homes near Athens. Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance.
A search and rescue operation is being conducted for 10 tourists who fled one of the fires in a boat, officials say.
"We will do whatever is humanly possible to control it," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters."We will do whatever is humanly possible to control it," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters.
He cut short an official trip to Bosnia in order to help coordinate the response to the situation, which firefighters have described as "extremely difficult". How badly burnt is Mati?
Most of the victims were trapped in Mati, 40km (25 miles) north-east of Athens, and died either in their homes or their cars. Most of the victims were trapped in the village 40km (25 miles) north-east of Athens, and died either in their homes or their cars.
At least 104 people are injured, 11 seriously, with 16 children among the casualties. The village is located in the Rafina region which is popular with local tourists, especially pensioners and children attending holiday camps, Reuters news agency notes.
Dramatic video posted on social media showed damaged buildings, orange smoke-filled skies, and people fleeing the fires by car. At least 104 people were injured, 11 seriously, with 16 children among the casualties.
Residents in the worst-affected areas were forced into the sea to escape the flames. "Mati doesn't even exist as a settlement anymore," one woman was quoted by Reuters as telling Greece's Skai TV. "I saw corpses, burned-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive."
"Thankfully the sea was there and we went into the sea, because the flames were chasing us all the way to the water," said Kostas Laganos, who survived the Mati fire. "Thankfully the sea was there and we went into the sea, because the flames were chasing us all the way to the water," said Kostas Laganos, who also survived the Mati fire.
"It burned our backs and we dived into the water... I said my God, we must run to save ourselves.""It burned our backs and we dived into the water... I said my God, we must run to save ourselves."
Prime Minister Tsipras said that "all emergency forces have been mobilised" and declared a state of emergency in the Attica region around Athens. How are the authorities responding?
The government has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires. Prime Minister Tsipras has declared a state of emergency in Attica, saying "all emergency forces" had been mobilised.
The extreme weather comes as dozens of wildfires continue to rage in Sweden. His government has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires.
Countries including Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help in the form of additional planes, vehicles and firefighters. Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help in the form of planes, vehicles and firefighters but with temperatures set to soar again, they are in a race against time to get the fires under control.
But with temperatures set to soar again, they are in a race against time to get the fires under control.
The wildfires are the worst to hit Greece since 2007, when dozens of people were killed in the southern Peloponnese peninsula.The wildfires are the worst to hit Greece since 2007, when dozens of people were killed in the southern Peloponnese peninsula.
What caused the fires?
Fires are a recurring problem during the hot, dry summer months in Attica.
Officials quoted by AFP news agency have suggested the current blazes may have been started by arsonists looking to loot abandoned homes.
Are you in Athens? How have you been affected by the wildfires? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Athens? How have you been affected by the wildfires? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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