Greece fires

More than 2,000 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers were out in force on Monday to combat the flames of six major fires that were still threatening the heavily populated northern coastal towns of Nea Makri, Dionysos and nearby Marathon as well as the islands of Evia and Skyros.

Officials said 17 water-dropping planes and helicopters resumed operations at first light on Monday, while aircraft from France, Italy and Cyprus were due to join in the effort.

"There are fewer fronts but the blaze is still developing," the fire brigade chief, Giannis Kappakis, said.

The firefighting efforts have been difficult with gale force winds sweeping across the country. Although the winds died down a bit on Sunday night, they were expected to pick up again on Monday.

The fires have destroyed several homes and about 40,000 acres of forest and olive groves, but there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries.

Entire towns have been evacuated with residents seen fleeing in cars, by motorcycle or on foot. However, not all followed the evacuation order by authorities.

Desperate residents take on the flames

Many Athenians were determined to protect their property from the flames, taking up position outside their homes with water hoses and branches.

Others, armed with shovels and buckets, assisted firefighters and soldiers in their efforts to stop the blaze from spreading any further.

Residents made frantic appeals on national television as the flames neared. "The fire is 500 metres away and we're choked in smoke," a woman from Dioni told Mega channel. "Please do something, we need a helicopter to drop water," she said.

It is unclear what caused the outbreak of forest fires which have become more frequent in recent years with rising temperatures and drought. However, arson has also played a role in the past, allegedly often by developers.

The fires broke out late on Friday just north of Marathon and quickly spread over Mount Penteli, fanned by the winds to an area more than 40 kilometers wide.

A state of emergency was declared in greater Athens almost immediately. However, critics said the poor handling of the fires by the conservative government resembled those which hit Greece in 2007, killing more than 80 people.

nk/AFP/Reuters/dpa/AP

Editor: Chuck Penfold