Fires Death Toll in Greece Reises to 61, Hundreds of Houses Burnt

World | August 27, 2007, Monday // 00:00

The death toll of the fires that are sweeping across Greece reached 61 people, the authorities reported.

Hundreds of people have lost their homes in the numerous blazes, which enveloped half of the territory of the country.

All flames-hit regions have already declared a state of emergency in order to mobilise all means and forces to face the disaster.

Massive fires consuming large areas of southern Greece raced toward the site of the ancient Olympics on Sunday.

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.

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.

Its own resources are stretched to the maximum with dozens of blazes reported throughout the country after an extended heat wave and drought.

Some of them are suspected to have been deliberate arson, which authorities vowed to crack down ruthlessly.

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