Forces of the Greek firefighters were able to bring almost all fires near the capital under control until early Wednesday morning. Only in a region about 70 kilometers west of Athens there was still a fire on a mountain, as the Greek Minister for Civil Protection, Nikos Toskas, announced on Greek television (ERT). Overall, however, the situation has eased slightly.
In the disaster area in the east of Athens around the port city of Rafina rescue teams and volunteers continued the search for further victims in the burned houses and apartments. According to a preliminary assessment of the authorities at least 74 people were killed in the devastating fires.
Video: Forest fires get out of control
Video
AFP
Mayors of the region feared, however, that the number of deaths could be three digits, as many people are still missing. Relatives of the missing people set up an Internet portal with photos of people whose fate is unknown.
Meanwhile, further assistance has been received: in the west of Athens operate around 60 Cypriot firefighters who had come to Greece on Tuesday evening as part of the EU assistance. On Wednesday morning, two Italian firefighting aircraft will be used. A Romanian firefighting aircraft was to arrive in the afternoon.
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"We are ready, if requested by the Greek side, to provide further assistance," European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianidis said on Greek television late Tuesday evening. He had arrived in Athens to get a picture of the situation.