Wildfires Rip through Greece, Killing Dozens

Wildfires raging in Greece have killed dozens, left scores more injured and have driven some off cliffs or into the sea in one of the country’s worst disasters in recent years.

Several fires near the country’s capital Athens, one of the world’s top shipping hubs, have killed at least 74 people and left 187 injured, officials said Tuesday. Its feared the death toll could rise further as the number missing is unknown.

Athens and the port city to its west, Pireaus, are home to more than 600 shipowers.

Although the fires subsided greatly by Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the blaze which is far from out. One fire is to the east of Athens near Kineta; one to the west of Athens in Kallitexnoupolis, near Mati; one near Corinth and two on the island of Crete, CNN reports.

On the country’s west coast near Rafina, where most casualties are reported to have occurred, a number of Greek coast guard vessels and Good Samaritan boats patrolled the shores near fire-stricken areas where more than 700 people trapped by fast-moving flames were rescued from beaches or the sea, authorities said. Six deceased were recovered from the sea.

Wildfires hit Greece every summer, but this week’s blaze fueled by strong winds was the deadliest in over a decade.