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Photo: Greece wildfire kills at least 74 near Athens, people flee to sea

The worst wildfires swept through Greece, killing at least 74 people and injuring 187 including families with children found clasped in a last embrace as they tried to flee the flames. The inferno has been Greece's deadliest since fires devastated its southern island of Evia in 2007, killing 77 people. The Greek media has described the disaster as a “national tragedy” while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared three days of national mourning. Wildfires have also caused widespread damage in northern Europe in recent days including Sweden, Norway, Latvia and Netherlands.

Updated on: Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM IST

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Firefighters try to extinguish flames during a wildfire in the village of Kineta near Athens. Greece is in mourning, following some of the worst wildfires this century, with fears that the toll -- at least 74 dead and 187 injured so far -- may rise as rescuers search for people trapped in their homes or burnt cars. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

Firefighters try to extinguish flames during a wildfire in the village of Kineta near Athens. Greece is in mourning, following some of the worst wildfires this century, with fears that the toll -- at least 74 dead and 187 injured so far -- may rise as rescuers search for people trapped in their homes or burnt cars. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

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A house stands threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta. Two main fires broke out Monday, one to the west of Athens near the town of Kineta and one to the northeast near the port of Rafina. Both were fanned by gale-forced winds that hampered firefighting efforts. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

A house stands threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta. Two main fires broke out Monday, one to the west of Athens near the town of Kineta and one to the northeast near the port of Rafina. Both were fanned by gale-forced winds that hampered firefighting efforts. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water to extinguish flames in Kineta. The European Union activated its Civil Protection Mechanism after Greece sought help. Several countries said they were sending aircraft to help fight the flames. More than 280 firefighters were still at work in the northeast of Athens, while another 200 firefighters were tackling the second forest fire in the west of Athens. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

A firefighting helicopter drops water to extinguish flames in Kineta. The European Union activated its Civil Protection Mechanism after Greece sought help. Several countries said they were sending aircraft to help fight the flames. More than 280 firefighters were still at work in the northeast of Athens, while another 200 firefighters were tackling the second forest fire in the west of Athens. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

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Many people fled to the sea to try to escape the flames as they tore through towns near Athens, reducing pine forests to ash and devouring hundreds of buildings. (Kalogerikos Nikos / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

Many people fled to the sea to try to escape the flames as they tore through towns near Athens, reducing pine forests to ash and devouring hundreds of buildings. (Kalogerikos Nikos / REUTERS)

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People watch a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina. At least six people died trying to escape the flames into the sea. Some 715 people were evacuated by boats to Rafina, the government said. (Alkis Konstantinidis / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

People watch a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina. At least six people died trying to escape the flames into the sea. Some 715 people were evacuated by boats to Rafina, the government said. (Alkis Konstantinidis / REUTERS)

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An aerial view of a burnt urban area following fire in Mati. Winds of above 100 kilometres per hour in Mati caused a “sudden progression of fire” through the village, said fire service spokeswoman Stavroula Maliri. The mayor of nearby Rafina, Evangelos Bournous even said that Mati no longer exists as more than a thousand buildings and 300 cars had been damaged. (Hellenic Ministry of Defence / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

An aerial view of a burnt urban area following fire in Mati. Winds of above 100 kilometres per hour in Mati caused a “sudden progression of fire” through the village, said fire service spokeswoman Stavroula Maliri. The mayor of nearby Rafina, Evangelos Bournous even said that Mati no longer exists as more than a thousand buildings and 300 cars had been damaged. (Hellenic Ministry of Defence / AFP)

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Firefighters and volunteers try to extinguish flames during the wildfire. The government has not yet said how many people are still missing from the fires, as firefighters continue to battle blazes in some areas. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

Firefighters and volunteers try to extinguish flames during the wildfire. The government has not yet said how many people are still missing from the fires, as firefighters continue to battle blazes in some areas. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

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A fire fighting truck is seen amid smoke in Kineta. Officials raised the possibility the blazes could have been started deliberately by criminals out to ransack abandoned homes. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

A fire fighting truck is seen amid smoke in Kineta. Officials raised the possibility the blazes could have been started deliberately by criminals out to ransack abandoned homes. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

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Cars were blocked at the closed National Road during a wildfire in Kineta. The Greek media described the disaster as a “national tragedy”, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit to Bosnia and announced three days of national mourning. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

Cars were blocked at the closed National Road during a wildfire in Kineta. The Greek media described the disaster as a “national tragedy”, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit to Bosnia and announced three days of national mourning. (Valerie Gache / AFP)

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A woman breaks down while trying to find her dog following a wildfire in the village of Mati. “People are shocked, lost. Some of them have lost everything: children, parents, homes,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Georgia Trisbioti. (Costas Baltas / REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

A woman breaks down while trying to find her dog following a wildfire in the village of Mati. “People are shocked, lost. Some of them have lost everything: children, parents, homes,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Georgia Trisbioti. (Costas Baltas / REUTERS)

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A burnt house in the village of Neos Voutzas. Dozens were overtaken by the flames in their homes, on foot or in their cars and the death toll could surpass that from the blazes that hit Greece’s southern island of Evia in 2007 in which 77 people perished. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

A burnt house in the village of Neos Voutzas. Dozens were overtaken by the flames in their homes, on foot or in their cars and the death toll could surpass that from the blazes that hit Greece’s southern island of Evia in 2007 in which 77 people perished. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

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People brought supplies for rescued people in Nea Makri. Wildfires have also caused widespread damage in northern Europe in recent days. Sweden, experiencing an unprecedented drought and the highest temperatures in a century, has counted more than 20 fires across the country. Norway, which experienced its hottest May, has seen several small fires. Fires have raged for five days in Latvia and in Netherlands also a wildfire broke out over about four hectares on Tuesday. (Yorgos Karahalis / AP)

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 1:33 PM

People brought supplies for rescued people in Nea Makri. Wildfires have also caused widespread damage in northern Europe in recent days. Sweden, experiencing an unprecedented drought and the highest temperatures in a century, has counted more than 20 fires across the country. Norway, which experienced its hottest May, has seen several small fires. Fires have raged for five days in Latvia and in Netherlands also a wildfire broke out over about four hectares on Tuesday. (Yorgos Karahalis / AP)

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