Greek fires kill at least seven people near Athens, residents flee homes

By Vbadilis Triandafyllou and Alkis Konstantinidis

MATI, Greece (Reuters) – The deadliest Greek forest fires Athens, Monday, while they were trying to flee in their cars or on foot

A Reuters witness saw at least four dead on a road in the community of Mati about 18 miles (18 km) away. Is from Athens. The popular tourist destination was devastated by the rapid blaze that began around 5 am. (1400 GMT).

One victim was in a car, another under a vehicle. Two people died on a motorcycle in what appeared to be a queue for going to the refuge of a nearby beach.

The Ministry of Health confirmed three more deaths, while government officials expected the toll to increase dramatically.

There have been several reports of missing persons, including four tourists from Denmark. At least 56 people were injured, health officials said.

Other journalists said they counted at least seven dead on a Mati road. One TV channel reported that eight bodies were being transferred by boat to the port of Rafina near Mati.

While the fire was still raging and darkness was falling, the magnitude of the disaster was impossible to badess.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who looked pale, said after cutting short a visit to Bosnia

Greece launched an urgent appeal for help to fight uncontrolled fires in many parts of the country, destroying homes.

Greece declared that it needed air and land badets from its partners in the European Union. Cyprus offered to send firefighters and staff.

"JUST LEAVE"

Reuters witnesses reported seeing a hill of houses ripped open by the flames east of Athens. A mayor said he saw at least 100 homes and 200 vehicles burned.

Greek authorities urged residents of a coastal region west of Athens to abandon their homes, fiercely burning down one of Greece's busiest highways. plumes of smoke on the capital.

Forest fires are not uncommon in Greece, but a relatively dry winter has created tinder conditions. It was not clear what ignited the fires.

The army was fished Monday afternoon to help fight fires. A fire chief went on television to ask people to leave the Kineta area in the west of Athens after some tried to stay on their properties

"People should leave, close their homes and just leave a lot of smoke for so many hours, "said Achilleas Tzouvaras. "The situation is extreme."

The Athens-Corinth main highway, one of the two roads to the Peloponnese peninsula, was closed and rail services canceled.

A fire ravaged the gulf of Saronicos forest, and was visible for miles. A disturbing cloud of black-orange smoke was suspended Monday afternoon on the Acropolis Hill and the Parthenon Temple in Athens

(Additional report by Renee Maltezou, written by Michele Kambas, edited by Andrew Bolton and Cynthia Osterman)

The story was not edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by self-feeding.