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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 in the Attica region around Athens, in Greece's 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. |
| As part of a huge rescue effort, emergency workers used boats and helicopters to evacuate a beach. | As part of a huge rescue effort, emergency workers used boats and helicopters to evacuate a beach. |
| A search-and-rescue operation is being conducted for 10 tourists who fled one of the fires in a boat, officials say. | 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 the authorities are seeking international assistance. | Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance. |
| "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. |
| How badly burnt is Mati? | How badly burnt is Mati? |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| At least 104 people were injured, 11 seriously, with 16 children among the casualties. | At least 104 people were injured, 11 seriously, with 16 children among the casualties. |
| "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." | "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 also 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." |
| How are the authorities responding? | How are the authorities responding? |
| Prime Minister Tsipras has declared a state of emergency in Attica, saying "all emergency forces" had been mobilised. | Prime Minister Tsipras has declared a state of emergency in Attica, saying "all emergency forces" had been mobilised. |
| His government has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires. | His government has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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? | What caused the fires? |
| Fires are a recurring problem during the hot, dry summer months in Attica. The flames this week were fanned by high winds. | |
| Officials quoted by AFP news agency have suggested the current blazes may have been started by arsonists looking to loot abandoned homes. | 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. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |