Forest fires close in on Athens
Updated on 16 August 2007
Strong winds are fanning large forest fires in the northern suburbs of the Greek capital, Athens.
The blaze has torched dozens of homes, cars and firetrucks and caused power cuts in parts of the city.
The fire began in the Penteli mountain, 13 miles north of Athens, and is spreading quickly towards the north of the city.
Thick dark smoke is hanging over the city, blocking out the sun.
Fire brigade spokesman Evangelos Falaras said: "The fire has burnt houses, mainly in the Nea Penteli area.
"We are mainly battling it on the ground because airplanes and helicopters cannot drop water to the core of the fire because of winds and the thick smoke."
More than 40 vehicles, six airplanes and six helicopters as well as hundreds of firefighters, volunteers and residents, are battling the blaze in the affluent area.
A witness at the scene said the fire was stretching along several miles around the Penteli mountain, from the suburbs of Kifisia to the Vrilisia and Melisia areas further southeast.
He said: "The fire now is in the middle of residential areas. The winds are still very strong."
Greece has seen some of the worst fires of the past decade this summer, caused by record-high temperatures, drought and arsonists.
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