KALAMOS, Greece (Reuters) — Wildfires burned through the night on Monday (August 14) in woodland some three towns near Athens, some 45 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of the capital as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.
The fire was burning unchecked for a second day, damaging dozens of homes.
It broke out around 1300GMT on Sunday (August 13) in Kalamos, a coastal holiday spot and quickly spread, fanned by strong and changing winds.
A state of emergency was declared in the area as the blaze burned pine forest and thick smoke billowed above.
By Monday afternoon, the fire’s perimeter had expanded to “dozens of kilometers” authorities said, and the smell of smoke hovered over central Athens.
More than 90 forest fires have been recorded in the last 24 hours across the country, with the most serious fronts near Athens, in the Peloponnese and on the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia in western Greece.
