Greece wildfires - LIVE: Death toll rises to 74 amid huge blazes outside Athens

Dozens dead in Greece wildfires

At least 74 people are thought to have been killed by a series of wildfires that have spread through tourist resorts close to the Greek capital Athens.

Witnesses have reported whole towns have been razed to the ground by the blaze, thought to be the country's most deadly fire in more than a decade.

Authorities believe dozens are dead, including 26 people found across just two villas in the village of Mati by Greek Red Cross relief workers.

More than 100 others have been reported injured while fleeing the fires, including 11 understood to be in a serious condition.

Follow our live updates for all the latest news from Athens:

Key Points

• At least 74 people are confirmed dead in fires near Greek capital
• Blazes have swept through several resorts popular with tourists
• Prime minister Alexis Tsipras announces three days of national mourning
• More than 150 injured people being treated in hospitals

[24 July 2018 13:47 · Tom Barnes]

German chancellor Angela Merkel has offered her country's help to fight the forest fires raging in Greece.

“In these difficult hours Germany stands firmly by the side of our Greek friends,” she said in a message of condolence sent to Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras.

“You can be sure of our willingness to provide support in coping with the fire disaster.”

[24 July 2018 14:03 · Tom Barnes]

Travelling to Greece soon and concerned your holiday may be affected by the current wildfire situation?

The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder has provided this guide to help you understand your options.

[24 July 2018 14:18 · Tom Barnes]

Several European nations are sending equipment or additional emergency services personnel to help Greece tackle the huge blazes near Athens.

Italy, Spain and Croatia have each offered to send two firefighting aircraft, while Cyprus and Bulgaria are also providing assistance.

Meanwhile, Turkey said it had aeroplanes and helicopters on standby to help in Greece if required.

Bekir Pakdemirli, Turkey's agriculture and forestry minister, said the planes are “45 minutes away if there is a request and we are ready to intervene immediately.”

[24 July 2018 14:31 · Tom Barnes]

Senior EU officials, including president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk, have offered their condolences and support to Greece

[24 July 2018 14:47 · Tom Barnes]

A Polish woman and her son were among 10 people who drowned when their boat capsized during evacuations from wildfires, a travel agent has reported.

Janusz Smigielski, deputy head of the Poznan-based Grecos travel agency, said the pair had been on holiday in Mati.

He said Greek water police and other forces were evacuating 45 people from a hotel in the village using boats when one of them capsized, killing everyone on board.

Mr Smigielski did not know the nationality of the other victims. The bodies of the Poles have reportedly been recovered.

He said that a further 435 Grecos clients in the Athens region have been moved to hotels in safe areas. 

[24 July 2018 15:12 · Tom Barnes]

Alexis Tsipras has held an emergency meeting at the Megaron Maximos, the Greek prime minister’s official residence, on plans to tackle the wildfires ravaging countryside outside Athens.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Tsipras called a three-day period of national mourning, following news at least 60 people have died in the blazes.

“The country is going through an unspeakable tragedy,” he said in a televised address to the nation.

[24 July 2018 15:33 · Tom Barnes]

The blazes currently raging across Attica are the worst to hit Greece since a series of massive wildfires in 2007.

Then, a severe and unprecedented drought caused more than 3,000 wildfires across the nation between in less than four months, mainly in the south of the Peloponnese region.

The fires claimed the lives of 84 people, with several firefighters included in that number and required an international relief effort to bring under control.

[24 July 2018 15:39 · Tom Barnes]

Wildfire death toll has risen to 74, officials say

A fire brigade spokesman has announced more than 70 people have now been killed by wildfires burning on the outskirts of Athens.

At least 187 people, including 23 children, have been injured. The number of missing individuals is still unclear.

[24 July 2018 15:53 · Tom Barnes]

Vassiliki Psevedourou, a resident of Neos Voutzas, around 16 miles east of Athens, said wildfires that hit her neighbourhood caused her family’s two cars to explode.

The 54-year-old, who limps due to a birth defect, said she was able to escape on foot.

Her cousin suffered burns all over his body as he tried to save his wife, who was confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis and is now missing.

“As we were trying to evacuate, she fell,” Ms Psevedourou said. “We tried to lift her but it was impossible. My cousin then dragged her on the ground, trying to take her away to safety.

“His shoes melted from the heat, the ground was burning. He was trying to hug her, to shield her from the flames, and his legs, his hands, his face were burned.”

[24 July 2018 16:14 · Tom Barnes]

Red Cross teams are on the ground in areas affected by the wildfires, providing assistance to the hundreds of people now thought to be injured.

Ben Webster, head of emergencies at the British Red Cross, said the UK’s arm of the international humanitarian organisation was read to provide help if called upon.

“Getting people to safety is the absolute priority in a disaster like this,” he said.

“Red Cross teams are on the ground now, treating the injured and working alongside the emergency services as part of search and rescue efforts.

“The British Red Cross stands ready to support, however we might be needed, as the situation evolves and the number of people affected becomes clearer.”