More than 60 dead in Greek wildfires

At least 60 people have died in wildfires in the Attica region around Athens, in Greece's worst fire disaster in more than a decade, according to a July 24 BBC News report.

Flames fanned by strong winds devastated the seaside village of Mati, destroying homes and cars, according to the report.

Mati is located in the Rafina region which is popular with local tourists, especially pensioners and children attending holiday camps.

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance.

Prime minister Tsipras declared a state of emergency in Attica, saying all emergency services had been mobilised. Greece has asked other European countries for helicopters and additional firefighters to help tackle the fires.

Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help in the form of planes, vehicles and firefighters, and Spain and Cyprus have offered Greece assistance, but with temperatures set to soar again, they are in a race against time to get the fires under control, according to the BBC.

Officials quoted by AFP news agency have suggested the current blazes may have been started by arsonists looking to loot abandoned homes.

"Fifteen fires had started simultaneously on three different fronts in Athens," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos reportedly said.

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