Greece wildfires rage near Athens
Thick grey smoke engulfed Mount Pentelicus that dominates Athens on Monday as the Greek capital battled the infernal fallout from what promises to be its hottest summer on record.
A 30-kilometer (20-mile) long line of fires, some with flames more than 25 meters (80 feet) high, was moving towards Athens, the ERT public broadcaster reported.
One has already engulfed the mountain that is known for producing the marble used in the Acropolis and other ancient buildings in Athens.
The nearby historic town of Marathon has also been ordered evacuated.
Brick homes on roads leading out of Marathon had huge black stains up the sides of their walls left by the flames. The roofs on many had also been burnt away.
At Dione, the fire burned cars and crept up apartment blocks. Some residents said they fled in their cars just as the flames sped up to their homes.
People in Penteli, an Athens suburb at the foot of the 1,109-meter (3,605-foot) high mountain, could only watch helplessly as fierce summer winds pushed flames toward their homes and up the slopes of Pentelicus.
Thick smoke from burning trees filled a small square in Penteli where local resident Mariana Papathanasi said they could only pray that their houses would be saved.
(Source: AFP)
Heavy rain washes away cars in Catalonia, Spain
Press TV's news headlines
Russia holds strategic nuclear exercise
VIDEO | Iraqi fighters strike Israeli military target, vow ‘increasing intensity’
VIDEO | Iran confirms successful signals from Kowsar, Hodhod satellites
VIDEO | What will keep Gaza on top of the new US presidential agenda?
188 Palestinian journalists killed since start of Israeli war: Gaza media office
Enemy fears us, our weapons, fighters tell Hezbollah’s leader
VIDEO | Silencing anti-Israeli voices
Trump prepares to pull US out of Paris Agreement: Report
VIDEO | Protesters in Sydney demand end to military support for Israel
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
