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| Fires rage unchecked near Athens | Fires rage unchecked near Athens |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Major wildfires north-east of the Greek capital Athens are burning out of control, officials have said. | Major wildfires north-east of the Greek capital Athens are burning out of control, officials have said. |
| Dozens of fire fighters backed up by 35 engines, five helicopters and nine water-bombers are trying to contain the fires, which are fed by strong winds. | Dozens of fire fighters backed up by 35 engines, five helicopters and nine water-bombers are trying to contain the fires, which are fed by strong winds. |
| Flames have reached houses in the towns of Grammatiko and Varnavas, but no casualties have been reported. | Flames have reached houses in the towns of Grammatiko and Varnavas, but no casualties have been reported. |
| The fires are the worst on the Greek mainland since those in 2007, when 70 people were killed. | The fires are the worst on the Greek mainland since those in 2007, when 70 people were killed. |
| The fires broke out late Friday and developed overnight, fed by gale-force winds that kept shifting direction, fire officials said. | The fires broke out late Friday and developed overnight, fed by gale-force winds that kept shifting direction, fire officials said. |
| By daybreak on Saturday, the fires were racing towards the town of Marathon, one of the landmarks of ancient Greek history. | By daybreak on Saturday, the fires were racing towards the town of Marathon, one of the landmarks of ancient Greek history. |
| Many people refused to leave their homes despite the intensity of the smoke and flames, hindering the fire crews' efforts. | Many people refused to leave their homes despite the intensity of the smoke and flames, hindering the fire crews' efforts. |
| 'Stripped of trees' | |
| "This is a difficult fire because it is a mixed area with homes and forest, meaning that firefighters are focusing their attention on protecting lives and properties," said fire department spokesman Yiannis Kapakis. | "This is a difficult fire because it is a mixed area with homes and forest, meaning that firefighters are focusing their attention on protecting lives and properties," said fire department spokesman Yiannis Kapakis. |
| The fires broke out late Friday, fed by gale-force winds | |
| The fires are further contributing to the deforestation of the mountains around Athens. Three of the four mountains surrounding the capital have already been stripped of their trees by fire, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. | The fires are further contributing to the deforestation of the mountains around Athens. Three of the four mountains surrounding the capital have already been stripped of their trees by fire, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. |
| Other fires are burning on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which has already been hit by fires this summer. | Other fires are burning on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which has already been hit by fires this summer. |
| Dozens of fires burnt through thousands of hectares of land in Spain, France, Greece and Italy in July. | Dozens of fires burnt through thousands of hectares of land in Spain, France, Greece and Italy in July. |
| According to the conservation group Greenpeace, heat waves and drier conditions are leading to larger and more uncontrollable forest fires across the Mediterranean. | According to the conservation group Greenpeace, heat waves and drier conditions are leading to larger and more uncontrollable forest fires across the Mediterranean. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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