Rapidly advancing wildfires are threatening to engulf the ancient ruins in Olympia, home of the first Olympic games, in the fire-ravaged Peloponnesian peninsula in Greece.

The area is patrolled by soldiers and fire fighters, who are trying to prevent the flames from spreading from a nearby forest to the ruins themselves.

Fire-fighting aircraft has been dispatched to save the ruins, which once housed a gigantic statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and are on UNESCO world heritage list.

The fire has already burned houses in nearby villages and has caused a power blackout, authorities said.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis declared a nationwide state of emergency as the death toll of the fires in the Peloponnese reached 51 people.

"All regions of the country are declared in a state of emergency in order to mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster," he said in a televised address.

The cabinet has come under intense pressure this summer for the way it has handled the fires that have swept the country, encroaching even on capital Athens.

"These are very difficult times for all of us," he added, calling on the European Union, of which Greece is a member state, to help the country with fire fighting aircraft. Several countries, including France, Spain and Italy have already answered his appeal.

Greece's own resources are stretched to the maximum with dozens of blazes reported throughout the country after an extended heat wave and drought, while strong winds have been fanning the flames in recent days.

Some of the fires have been deliberate arson, as footage has shown, and authorities vowed to crack down ruthlessly on such incidents.

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