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Greece wildfires: At least 74 killed as officials request drones to hunt suspected arsonists

The wildfires in Greece that claimed the lives of at least 74 people may have been started by arsonists, officials say.

The village of Mati has been razed to the ground by the ferocious blaze, which took the lives of residents as they sheltered in their homes and attempted to flee in their cars.

An entire family, including young children, was found dead in one home, with some of the victims hugging together as the fire reached them. The 26 bodies were found by rescuers attempting to help survivors.

The local mayor said that the seaside resort ‘no longer exists’.

Burnt out cars line the streets in the resort of Matti, near Athens (Getty Images)
Burnt out cars line the streets in the resort of Matti, near Athens (Getty Images)
The mayor of Mati said that his village ‘no longer exists’ (Getty Images)
The mayor of Mati said that his village ‘no longer exists’ (Getty Images)

The deadliest blazes to hit the country in more than a decade saw wildfires fanned by high winds rage through the holiday resort.

One of the fires began to the west of Athens near the town of Kineta, with another starting to the north-east near the port of Rafina – the latter seeing the worst of the casualties.

Both fires were fanned by gale-force winds that hampered firefighting efforts.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has declared a three-day national mourning period.

A house is threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens, on Monday (Picture: Getty)
A house is threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens, on Monday (Picture: Getty)

“Fifteen fires had started simultaneously on three different fronts in Athens,” government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told AFP.

Fire service spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri said that a further 164 adults and 23 children are still being treated in hospitals for injuries after the fires broke out near Athens.

The fires left lines of cars torched, charred farms and forests, and sent hundreds of people racing to beaches to be evacuated by navy vessels, yachts and fishing boats.

Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens (Picture: Getty)
Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens (Picture: Getty)

Winds reached 50mph as authorities deployed the country’s entire fleet of water-dropping planes and helicopters to give vacationers time to escape.

Military drones remained in the air in the high winds to help officials direct more than 600 firefighters below.

“We were unlucky. The wind changed and it came at us with such force that it razed the coastal area in minutes,” said Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the port town of Rafina, a sleepy mainland port that serves Greek holiday islands.

Firefighters battle a blaze at a property outside Athens (Picture: Rex)
Firefighters battle a blaze at a property outside Athens (Picture: Rex)

The dock area became a makeshift hospital as paramedics checked survivors when they came off coast guard vessels and private boats.

The operation continued through the night.

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The fire posed no immediate threat to Greece’s famed ancient monuments, but as it raged inland children’s’ summer camps and holiday homes were hastily abandoned.

Fleeing drivers clogged highways into Athens, hampering the firefighting effort.

It has been the deadliest fire season to hit Greece in more than a decade.

More than 60 people were killed in 2007 when huge fires swept across the southern Peloponnese region.

Rescuers and volunteers help local people evacuate the Greek village of Mati (Picture: Getty)
Rescuers and volunteers help local people evacuate the Greek village of Mati (Picture: Getty)

“It’s a difficult night for Greece,” prime minister Alexis Tsipras said after flying back to Athens from a trip to Bosnia that was cut short.

Authorities said Cyprus and Spain offered assistance after the request for EU help was made.

Greek Fire Service officials issued public pleas for residents in fire-affected areas to comply with evacuation orders and not stay on in an effort trying to save their homes.

Rafina’s mayor said he believed about 100 houses in that area had burned. The fire service was not able to confirm the figure.

Showers that passed over the Greek capital Monday missed the two big fires – one at Rafina, 18 miles to the east, and the other at Kineta, 35 miles to the west.

Heavy rain is forecast across southern Greece on Wednesday.