Fire damaged 2,000 homes, Greeks say

MATI, Greece — More than 2,000 homes were damaged in this week’s deadly wildfire near Athens and roughly a quarter of them will have to be demolished, Greek officials said Friday, revealing more about the disaster that has the government receiving mounting criticism.

As the death toll from the fire reached 86, the Infrastructure Ministry said it has inspected some 2,000 damaged homes in the fire-hit Rafina area, 18 miles east of the capital.

Houses considered permanently unsafe were being sprayed with red X signs, as structural inspections by housing experts were being carried out in parallel with ongoing house searches by rescue crews looking for more victims.

State coroners have completed autopsies on all the bodies recovered so far, increasing the death toll.

Despite the daily rising death toll, Greek government officials have refused to acknowledge criticism, including claims of poor emergency planning ahead of the country’s annual wildfire season.

On Friday, however, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to defuse the mounting criticism of his government.

“I accept full political responsibility for this tragedy,” Tsipras said at a televised meeting with his Cabinet ministers. “It is an obvious thing for the prime minister to do, and I urge you to do the same.”

AP/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS A worker attempts to repair an electricity pole damaged in a wildfire in Neos Voutzas, Greece.