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Forest fires blaze in Athens suburbs

Updated on 16 August 2007

By Carl Dinnen

Fires which broke out this morning in Athens prosperous northern suburbs, are still burning.

The fires began in Nea Penteli, near the Holy Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas. Gale force winds fanned the flames across Athens prosperous northern suburbs, scattering firefighters and residents.

The high winds initially meant firefighting planes were unable to fly, giving the fires time to spread, but eventually, seven helicopters and six planes entered the fray, joining over a 100 firefighters.

Constant power blackouts are reported in areas near the fire fronts due to water drops in power towers for precautionary reasons.

The fire were moving from Nea Penteli to Kifissia, 30 kilometres away and houses in Vrilissia, Melissia, Kifissia and Kefalari are being threatened by flames.

Unarmed against the elements

Some people appeared to be armed against the inferno with little more than garden hoses; in one case a domestic fire extinguisher - and elsewhere, a shovel.

So far, there appear to be no fatalities, although ten people have been taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and 130 patients had to be evacuated from a psychiatric clinic.

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