Greece fights forest fires that force people to flee; 1 person dies

Wildfires spread uncontrollably in several parts of Greece on Monday, destroying homes, disrupting service on major transportation routes and forcing people to flee for safety.

According to the Greek emergency services, one person died and 25 were injured in forest fires. At least six people were seriously injured, said an official at the National Center for Emergency Medical Services on state television.

Greek authorities urged residents of a coastal region near Athens to leave their homes. , closing one of the busiest highways in the country, stopping railroad links and throwing columns of smoke over the capital

In the late afternoon, a big fire also erupted in the north and l 39; East of Athens

saw at least 100 homes and 200 cars consumed by the flames.

Forest fires are not uncommon in Greece, but a relatively dry winter has created the ideal conditions for such conflagrations.

Dozens of people died when forest fires devastated southern Greece in 2007.

"We will do everything humanly possible," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said at a news conference. official visit to Bosnia – but he hinted that so many fires at the same time need to be better analyzed.

"I am concerned about the simultaneous eruptions in the east and west of Attica "he said.

Later Tsipras shortened a trip to Bosnia and should return to Greece.

The army was summoned Monday afternoon to help fight the Some flights, mainly landings, were also canceled in the afternoon due to poor visibility and misdirection of air traffic detectors