Photo Gallery Fires Engulf Athens Suburbs
The wildfire around Athens has sent black clouds of smoke billowing over the Acropolis.
The wildfires have spread rapidly. Within minutes the fires grow into towering walls of flames, fanned by the strong winds.
Firefighters haven't been able to contain the flames so far.
Thousands of local residents have fled the fire which is engulfing houses on the edge of the city. The governor of Athens, Yiannis Sgouros, called the situation "tragic".
Fighting the flames on the Dionysos Mountain, north of Athens.
The forest fires spread out of control on Saturday, after firefighters believed they had quelled the blaze on Friday.
The flames were fanned by strong winds of up to 49 kilometers per hour.
Local residents tried to quash the flames themselves using hoses, buckets and even simpler means.
For the most part their attempts were in vain. Here, a resident of Athens suburb Ntrafi looks helplessly on at the flames on Penteli mountain...
...which have already claimed scores of houses and thousands of acres of forest land.
Spiros Sagaris, mayor of the town of Marathon, called Saturday the worst night of his life.
Residents of the small town had to flee for their lives.
Even fire-fighting airplanes haven't stopped the blaze. It is hoped that additional planes being supplied by Italy and France can put out the fire...
...before it reaches the densely-populated city of Athens, which already sits beneath thick clouds of smoke.
Fire-fighting planes had to fly 42 kilometers to Marathon beach to refill their tanks with water.
One resident of the Athens suburb of Anthousa cries out for help after flames surround his home.
Help came too late for the residents in the suburb of Agios Stefanos.
Residents had to leave all their belongings behind as they were evacuated from their homes.
Colossal damage: The flames left a trail of destruction.
