Athens wildfire toll 79 and counting
At least 79 people have died in huge wildfires around Athens.
Rescuers were scouring scorched homes and burnedout cars yesterday for survivors of one of the deadliest fire outbreaks in Europe’s modern history.
Scores of locals and holidaymakers fled to the sea to escape the flames as they tore through towns near Athens stoked by 100km/h wind gusts, devouring woodland and hundreds of buildings.
Greek media described the disaster as a national tragedy, and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit to Bosnia and announced three days of national mourning.
The government has not yet said how many people are still missing. The fires broke out on Monday and by yesterday firefighters were still blazes in some areas.
Terrified residents and tourists were overtaken by the flames in homes, on foot and in their cars.
The charred bodies of 26 people, including small children, were discovered at a villa at the seaside resort of Mati, 40km northeast of Athens. They were huddled together in small groups, “perhaps families, friends or strangers, entwined in a last attempt to protect themselves as they tried to reach the sea”, said rescuer Vassilis Andriopoulos.
“Mati no longer exists,” said the mayor of nearby Rafina, Evangelos Bournous.
Yesterday a blaze was threatening houses near the seaside town of Kineta, 25km west of Athens. Dozens of firefighters battling were battling the flames, aided by helicopters and planes dropping thousands of litres of water. Spokeswoman Stavroula Maliri said authorities knew of 79 dead, surpassing the 77 killed in the previous deadliest fire in Greece, on the southern island of Evia in 2007.
Some 187 people have been hospitalised, with 82 being treated on Tuesday evening including almost a dozen children, most of whom were in a “serious condition”, the fire services said.
Rain is forecast, which will help efforts to douse the flames after temperatures topped 40°C on Monday. –