Wildfires broke out around Athens today, threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of a nunnery and a children's camp.
At least two blazes were raging separately out of control to the north and southeast of Athens, sending thick clouds of smoke over the capital, fire brigade officials said.
The first serious wildfires to occur near the city this summer, the flames are eating into forestland left unharmed by a major blaze last year, which destroyed scores of homes and thousands of acres of vegetation.
"The fire has spread into inhabited areas but there seems to be no risk to large settlements and we have no reports of casualties," fire brigade deputy chief Apostolos Gerokostas said on Skai television.
Local authorities have ordered the evacuation of a nunnery near Marathon and a children's camp at Lavrio. Several citizens were fleeing their homes to avoid the smoke, while others stay behind to protect their property using water hoses and tree branches, a police source said.
More than 100 firefighters, 27 engines, eight airplanes and four helicopters were battling to put out the flames, which were being fanned by strong winds.
Wildfires, often laid by arsonists to clear land for development, are frequent in Greece. Anarchic town-planning and illegal rubbish dumps also help the fires break out and spread.
Reuters