Greece declares nationwide emergency after fires kill 46 | Reuters

A cameraman walks on a road amidst smoke in the village of Zacharo in south Peloponnese
About 350km (217 miles) from Athens August 25, 2007. Greece's worst forest fires in decades have killed 41 people in the past 24 hours and more are feared dead in villages still cut off by flames sweeping parts of the Peloponnese peninsula, officials said on Saturday.
redit: REUTERS/John Kolesidis

Reuters:

By Vassilis Triandafyllou

ZACHARO, Greece (Reuters) - The Greek government declared a nationwide state of emergency on Saturday after raging forest fires killed at least 46 people and trapped many more in villages surrounded by flames.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said the rash of forest fires "can't be a coincidence". He vowed the culprits, an apparent reference to arsonists, would be found and punished.

"All regions of the country are declared in a state of emergency in order to mobilize all means and forces to face this disaster," he said in a televised address to the nation.

The worst fires in Greece in decades broke out on Friday on the southern Peloponnese peninsula and have spread to new fronts, fanned by strong winds and soaring temperatures which have hampered rescue efforts.

Forest fires also broke out near Athens on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of homes and a monastery and closing the motorway linking the capital to the main airport for several hours.

Thick smoke darkened the sky above Athens and ashes fell on city centre streets as the blaze advanced to the outskirts before it was brought under control.

"Help, we need help. We have children and elderly who need assistance. The fire is 50 meters (yards) away from us," a resident from the village of Styra on the island of Evia told Greek TV by phone.

The fire department said the death toll had risen to 46, including several children, but more are feared dead as many villages remain cut off by towering walls of flame.

Rescuers said they had found bodies on the side of the road, in burnt homes and in cars, including a mother still clutching her children.