Forest fires in Greece killing at least 49 people

Officials from the Greek Fire Department said on Tuesday that at least 49 people had been killed and more than 140 injured in forest fires raging in resorts near the nation's capital.

in the region has set up emergency situations in the eastern and western areas of Athens and mobilizes troops to help extinguish the fire.

Athens has requested air and ground support from the European Union to help extinguish the flames. Greece says Cyprus offers to send firefighters, while Spain offers aerial badistance to pour water. BBC News reports that other countries, including Italy, Germany, Poland and France, have sent planes, vehicles and firefighters.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras shortened his trip to Bosnia on Monday and returned to Athens to lead an emergency response meeting.

"We did everything humanly possible to handle this fire," Tsipras said. "What is disturbing is that fires occur simultaneously."

The first fires occurred in a pine forest near the small town of Kineta, 50 kilometers west of Athens.

The three communities were evacuated and the fire closed the stretch along nearly 20 kilometers on the main road.

It is expected that high temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius strike Greece. The authorities have warned of the high threat of forest fires. Winds blowing up to 80 kilometers at the time hamper efforts to cope with fires

Other fires burn in the northeastern region of Athens, in the region of Penteli , which flows into the city of Rafina. Mayor Rafina estimates that at least 100 houses have been destroyed.

Greek Coast Guards send boats to the area to evacuate residents trapped on the coast because of the fire. Officers also searched for a boat that was missing. The boat was called a Danish tourist who was escaping from a fire.

A local fire chief appeared on state television to urge people to leave the area after some residents tried to stay home. [uh/ab]