Athens on Fire..Thousands home affected.

Several thousand residents of Athens' northern suburbs have evacuated their homes as several wildfires continue to blaze around the Greek capital.

Almost the entire population of Agios Stefanos, 23km (14 miles) north-east of Athens, fled by vehicle or on foot.

Multiple fires have been burning across an area some 50km wide, fanned by strong and unpredictable winds.


Firefighting efforts were suspended as darkness fell on Sunday, with several major blazes still burning into the night, although no casualties have been reported.


"The constant shift in the wind's direction is rekindling the flames," fire brigade spokesman Giannis Kapakis told Reuters news agency. "We must all remain calm through this night."

Dozens of homes were burnt down and a state of emergency was declared in the Athens area.

Gale-force winds hampered firefighting efforts for a second day as the flames encroached on the city's outer suburbs. Officials appealed to residents to evacuate but some Athenians remained in their homes to try to battle the inferno with hoses and buckets.

The Greek government has appealed for help from Italy, France and Cyprus. State-run institutions, including the children's hospital in Pendeli, were abandoned as the flames spread.

"What we are facing is a huge ordeal," said prime minister Kostas Karamanlis. "A massive effort by authorities is taking place to deal with this very difficult challenge."

Environmentalists said that the blazes had caused "biblical damage" to an estimated 120,000 hectares of virgin fir and prime forest. Scores of homes in well-heeled north-eastern Athens were also reported to have been gutted. The scenes evoked memories of the devastating fires of 2007, in which up to 70 people were killed. Greeks are now asking how their country could still appear so unprepared for a similar disaster.

"There is no coordination between the police, fire fighters or local authorities. It's chaos," said Yiannis Nikitopoulos, the mayor of Anixi, one of the affected suburbs. He added that he had "no doubt" that most of the fires now afflicting Athens were the work of arsonists determined to clear land for developers.

Residenst in shock over the fire spread.


Smoke blanket out the normal sunny Athens.


Fireplanes are used intensively to sent water to hotspots all over Athens.


Fireplane trying to stop the firespread.


Map show the fire hotspots all over Athens Greek

A plane drops water over a fire in Varnava village

An elderly woman stands in the middle of a street in Grammatiko


A resident on a water wagon at Mount Penteli, east of Athens


Fire illuminates the sky behind the Acropolis in Athens


Thick smoke over the Acropolis


Citizens of Anthusa inspect the damage caused by the fire


A firefighter trains a hose on the flames outside Marathon village



Houses threatened by the Kaletzi fire


A fireman waits for help during a fire that broke out at the village of Kaletzi. Authorities have declared a state of emergency and order residents to evacuate



A firefighting helicopter flies over Kaletzi


A helicopter drops water over Grammatiko


Locals run to escape a forest fire at Grammatiko village. Fires broke out late on Friday, fanned by strong winds


Residents cover their faces as they flee the flames in Pedeli, north of Athens


Smoke hovers above the north-east suburbs of Athens



The smouldering remnants of a house after a blaze in the north Athens suburb of Drafi


The sun rises in the smoky sky over Athens


Volunteers battle blazes in Pallini



Thick smoke above Athens





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Massive forest fire that broke out friday night blazed into its third day near Athens Απευθείας σύνδεση: Η μεγάλη πυρκαγιά στην Αττική. live stream from www.zougla.

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Russian plane at Athens fire

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This is the CL 215 or 415 aka Super Scooper, the suck water from the sea and used in to doze fire. Able to scoop (suck ) 6,400 liters of water in 12 seconds , mix it foam if required and then drop it at firespot..all without going to airport to refill. Notice it is able to do it while guiding on the water. Mininum of 410 meter of water streth is required. Able to suck at even 2 meter deep of water only..It is still flying while sucking water hence not necessary straigh water source is required it can flying around while sucking water.

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