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Greece wildfires: ‘Hundreds went into the sea’ Greece wildfires: ‘Hundreds went into the sea’
(35 minutes later)
Wildfires in Greece have claimed the lives of at least 60 people.Wildfires in Greece have claimed the lives of at least 60 people.
Flames fanned by strong winds have devastated the Attica region around Athens.Flames fanned by strong winds have devastated the Attica region around Athens.
Rescuers found the bodies of 26 adults and children who had apparently hugged each other as they died, trapped by the inferno just metres from the sea and a number of people have been reported missing. Rescuers found the bodies of 26 adults and children, who had apparently hugged each other as they died, trapped by the inferno just metres from the sea. A number of people have been reported missing.
Here eyewitnesses in Greece describe how the fires have affected them. Eyewitnesses in Greece describe how the fires have affected them.
'Branches and debris were hitting the car''Branches and debris were hitting the car'
Gianni Labroupolis was driving from Patras to Athens.Gianni Labroupolis was driving from Patras to Athens.
"We could not see beyond 20 metres and all of a sudden we felt the heat and saw the fire and I just thought this cannot be happening," he told the BBC. "We could not see more than 20 metres ahead but all of a sudden we could feel the heat and see the fire, I just thought this cannot be happening," he told the BBC.
"We were pretty scared. We didn't know if we could make it through because we did not know what to expect. "We were pretty scared. We didn't know if we would make it through, we just did not know what to expect.
"Branches and debris were hitting the car. The power of the fire and the heat made it a situation we do not want to experience ever again." "Branches and debris were hitting the car.
"The power of the fire and the intense heat made it something we would not want to experience ever again."
'A family friend died in the sea''A family friend died in the sea'
Olivia Exarchakou, 19, is a student in central Athens. Two of her family friends have died in the fires.Olivia Exarchakou, 19, is a student in central Athens. Two of her family friends have died in the fires.
"All day we could see the smoke from the rooftops. We saw it billowing past the Acropolis."All day we could see the smoke from the rooftops. We saw it billowing past the Acropolis.
"Yesterday it was very hot and dark because of the smoke and there was a lot of wind. "Yesterday it was very hot and dark because of the smoke.
"The winds were so strong it blew cushions and mops from balconies and down onto the street. "There was a lot of wind as well, the winds were so strong cushions and mops were blown from balconies onto the street below.
"A close friend of my mother lost her summer house in the Voutsa area. I know two people who have died. "A close friend of my mother lost her summer house in the Voutsa area.
"One died at home. She didn't have time to get out of her house because of the speed at which the fire spread. Another family friend lost her life at the beach. "I know two people who have died as a result of the fire.
"She was in the water when she was found." "One died at home. She didn't have time to get out of her house because of the speed at which the fire spread.
"Another family friend lost her life at the beach. She was in the water when she was found."
'People are missing''People are missing'
Catherine Hooper from Bristol travels to Greece regularly and is close to the affected area.Catherine Hooper from Bristol travels to Greece regularly and is close to the affected area.
"I am about 20km away on the other side of Penteli mountain where the fire took hold. "I am about 20km away on the other side of the Pentelicus mountain range where the fire took hold.
"The air is acrid and a thick smog hangs over Athens and the supermarkets are giving out truck loads of water. "Even here, the air is acrid. A thick smog hangs over Athens and supermarkets are giving out truck loads of water.
"I have lost count of the number of fire planes and helicopters that have passed and continue to pass overhead, and there is a constant drone of planes flying. "I have lost count of the number of fire planes and helicopters that have passed and continue to pass overhead, there is a constant drone from planes overhead.
"Yesterday afternoon the fire leapt down the mountainside so fast as a result of the strong winds. From reports here, the roads were jammed and many people who could out-run the fire ran to the beach. "Yesterday afternoon strong winds meant the fire spread down the mountainside fast. Reports here said roads were jammed and that many people ran to the beach to try and out-run the fire.
"Hundreds went into the sea, but the hot ash and flying debris forced many to swim far out. The waves were large and currents pushed people out towards Evia Island. "Hundreds went into the sea, but the hot ash and flying debris forced many to swim far out.
"This morning I heard that three women and a child have been found drowned. Many more are missing at sea. "The waves were large and currents pushed people out towards Evia Island.
"This morning I heard that three women and a child drowned. Many more are missing at sea.
"Some swimmers were in the water for four hours before being rescued."Some swimmers were in the water for four hours before being rescued.
"This morning 26 people were found dead in a taverna. I hear that they have found a mother dead with her child in her arms and they have counted 25 people dead on the roads towards the beach. "This morning 26 people were found dead in a taverna. I hear that they have found a mother dead with her child in her arms.
"I feel sure that as the rescue services search the gutted buildings they will find more bodies." "They have counted 25 people dead on the roads towards the beach.
A biblical catastrophe "I feel sure that as rescue services search the gutted buildings they will find more bodies."
George Vokos is in Mati. He says he is lucky to be alive 'A biblical catastrophe'
"I was present at the moment of the catastrophe. We're talking about a biblical catastrophe. George Vokos is in Mati. He says he is lucky to be alive.
"I have two burnt cars and a semi-burnt house in this block of flats. "This is a biblical catastrophe.
"Thank God my family was completely safe because we ran down to the sea." "Thank God my family are safe, we ran down to the sea for safety.
"I have lost two cars in the fire as they are burnt out, and my house has been semi-burnt too."