SOLYMONE BLOG: FIRE THREAT CITY OF ATHEN SUBURB

Residents of an entire Athens suburb have been ordered from their homes as out-of-control wildfires blaze around the Greek capital.

The 10,000 residents of Agios Stefanos, 23km (14 miles) north-east of Athens, were to leave the suburb immediately.
Fires have been burning in a wide arc north-east of Athens, pushed by strong and unpredictable winds.
The fires the worst since those in 2007 which killed about 70 people, are being called an environmental disaster.
Italy, France and Cyprus are sending aircraft to help the hard-pressed Greek fire crews.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has said the country is facing "a great ordeal" but has praised the emergency services for making "a superhuman effort".
Dozens of homes have been torched and authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Athens area but no casualties have been reported.

FIRE THREAT CITY OF ATHEN SUBURB