In pictures: the imposing images of the violent fires that killed dozens of people in Greece

The violent forest fires that cross Greece have killed dozens of people, according to the government of this European country, which has asked for international aid to fight the flames.

The Greek authorities confirmed that The death toll was 2 4 but it is very likely that this official figure will increase in the next few hours because it does not include data such as that of the president of the Greek Red Cross, Nikos Economopoulos, state television. He said his institution discovered 26 other bodies in a spa in the coastal town of Mati, according to Reuters and AFP agencies.

Hundreds of firefighters try to extinguish the fire while the inhabitants closest to the flames have to evacuate their homes.

A rescue operation was launched to find 10 tourists who escaped from the fire on a ship,

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"We will do everything humanly possible to control the fire, "Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters.

Tsipras shortened an official trip to Bosnia to be able to coordinate the response to the situation, which the firefighters describe as "extremely difficult" Image copyright
AFP [19659004] Legend of the Image

Neighbors affected by the advance of the fire are sorry to return home.

Mati Tourist Center

Most of the victims were trapped in the tourist resort of Mati, 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, and died in their homes or in their cars. Of the deaths there were 16 minors .

In addition, there are more than 100 injuries.

Video images shared on social networks show damaged homes, smoky skies and people fleeing the area by car

The inhabitants of the most affected areas had to escape the flames by jumping into the sea. "Fortunately, the sea was there and we launched, because the flames were chasing us in the water, we thought" God, we must run to save ourselves, "said Kostas Laganos.

Rescue teams mobilized

Prime Minister Tsipras said that "all the emergency forces were mobilized" and declared the state of emergency in the region of Á tica

The Greek government has asked other European countries to collaborate with helicopters and additional firefighters to fight the fire.

States such as Italy, Germany, Poland and France sent planes, vehicles. and firefighters.

But with the anticipation of a new rise in temperatures, emergency teams run against the clock to control the flames.

These fires are the worst to hit Greece since 2007, when dozens of people died. the Peloponnese Peninsula

The heat wave that rages in other parts of Europe has also caused dozens of fires in Sweden.

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