THE SUNDAY TIMES: Thousands of Athens residents were forced to flee their homes overnight as out-of-control wildfires reached the city's northern suburbs, destroying scores of homes.
Nearly 400 firefighters struggled to contain the fire that is feared to have damaged or destroyed scores of rural and summer homes as it raged for a third day.
"The situation is tragic. Fires are out of control on many fronts," greater Athens local governor Yiannis Sgouros said.
A state of emergency was declared in greater Athens, in the worst destruction seen here since massive fires struck southern Greece in 2007 and killed more than 70 people.
After daybreak, planes and helicopters resumed water drops following an eight-hour pause that allowed the wildfire to spread across parts of Mount Penteli and reach suburban homes. Clouds of black smoke filled the capital's skyline and obscured the sun. >>> | Sunday, August 23, 2009
