GREECE has been hit by devastating flash floods - as the country still reels from the savage wildfires which ripped through the Attica region of the country which may have been caused by arson, officials said. Summer rainstorms over the past two days have caused flooding in several parts of Greece, as shocking aerial pictures have the seaside town of Mati destroyed by flames. 16 The flashfloods have devastated parts of Greece as the country is still reeling from savage wildfires which ripped through the Attica region Credit: AP:Associated Press The country's civil protection agency said yesterday that the fire brigade responded to 160 calls for help in the area of Mandra and Nea Peramos southwest of Athens as a result of the flash floods - the same areas which were ravaged by the winter floods in 2017, killing 24. Fifteen people needed to be evacuated from flooded homes or cars on Tuesday, officials said. Floodwaters also forced the closure of several roads in the area, and the fire brigade said 95 firefighters with 40 vehicles and a boat were helping address the situation. Flooding problems were also reported in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece, a popular tourist destination, and near Larissa in central Greece. 16 Fifteen people needed to be evacuated from flooded homes or cars on Tuesday, officials said Credit: Reuters 16 Piled up vehicles are seen at a street after a rainstorm in Maroussi, suburb of Athens Credit: EPA 16 People inspect destroyed cars at a flooded road after a rainstorm in Maroussi Credit: EPA 16 Rescue workers inspect a scene after the floods Credit: Reuters 16 Above, cars in floodwater in an open parking area in northern Athens, seen through a window Credit: AP:Associated Press The devastating floods come as aerial photos have shown the catastrophic aftermath of wildfires in the seaside resort of Mati on the country's southern coast, which started on Monday but have since dampened down. The fires - the deadliest in the country's history - overwhelmed the resort town at the height of the tourist season, forcing residents and holidaymakers to run for their lives and plunge into the sea. The horror blaze killed at least 82 people, with around 200 thought to be missing although there is no official number of those unaccounted for as emergency workers continue to search for bodies, officials said. In the aerial photos of Mati, the destroyed seaside community appears singed and grey, with burnt out trees and shells of buildings. 16 An aerial view shows a burnt area following a wildfire in the village of Mati Credit: AFP or licensors 16 An aerial view of Mati. The fires are the deadliest in the country's history Credit: Reuters 16 The wildfires had been confined to the mountain areas of the coast until the wind changed direction on Monday and whipped flames through the seaside town Credit: Reuters In other pictures high rise buildings stand above the scorched earth. Speaking with Sky News, Greece's interior minister Panos Skourletis described the fires as a "national tragedy" and a "biblical disaster with human losses." Authorities in Greece have now said there are "serious indications" that the deadly wildfire was started by arson. And earlier today, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos told the BBC illegal construction contributed to the wildfire disaster. He said building by residents between wooded areas was a "crime" that had resulted in blocking escape routes. 16 The charred remains of Mati Credit: AFP or licensors 16 Many victims ran towards the ocean as the ferocious blaze ripped through forests near the shore Credit: AFP or licensors Footage shows people being rescued after trying to escape the wildfire in Greece 16 The fires have been called a 'biblical disaster' Credit: AFP or licensors 16 The destroyed seaside community appears singed and grey, with burnt out trees and shells of buildings Credit: AFP or licensors He said: "This is a crime from the past. This coast of Athens, all these properties, the majority are without a licence, and they have occupied the coast without rules." And outside the coroner's service in Athens, the mood was grim as relatives of victims arrived to submit information and blood samples which could assist identifications. "This is a difficult process, more difficult than other mass disasters we have dealt with," said coroner Nikolaos Kalogrias, adding that the bodies of most of the victims were completely charred, making identification difficult. Previosuly, a distraught Greek father frantically searched for his missing twin daughters after believing he had spotted them on TV – only to discover it wasn’t them. 16 The desperate father was convinced that the two girls in this image were his missing daughters 16 Sophia, left, and Vasiliki, both aged nine, vanished amid the chaos of the raging infernos Yiannis Philipopoulos made a heartbreaking televised appeal yesterday asking for help to locate Sophia and Vasiliki, both aged nine, who vanished amid the chaos of the deadly wildfires in southern Greece. He insisted he had spotted his precious girls on a news report - wrapped in blankets on a rescue boat in the port of Rafina. The brave father and his wife then spent a fruitless day searching hospitals and giving DNA samples at the Athens morgue. But another man has since come forward to say the youngsters in the footage belong to him – meaning Sophia and Vasiliki remain missing and are feared dead. 16 Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp tragically died in the fires while his new wife Zoe is being treated in hospital Credit: Facebook Greek dad Yiannis Philipopoulos mistakenly thought he'd spotted his nine-year-old twin daughters, missing after wildfires, alive on a rescue boat on TV MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS BETRAYAL OF TRUST Woman, 22, 'lured off street by paramedic and gang raped in ambulance' Latest FERRY DISASTER More than 150 feared dead after overloaded ferry 'breaks in two' and sinks CLINGING TO LIFE Hotel owner left critical after catching deadly from Aussie mouse plague CRYPTO KILLER Bondage-obsessed Bitcoin trader ‘went crazy’ & strangled lover to death SLIPPERY CHARACTER Massive deadly snake lurks in Aussie back garden... can YOU spot it? LIVES DESTROYED 3 women die and pal loses baby in crash while celebrating end of lockdown The remains of Irish honeymooner Brian O'Callaghan-Westropp has been found after he and his new wife were swept up in the hellish flames in the coastal town of Mati. His new bride Zoe Holohan, who he married on Thursday, is currently being treated for serious burns in Athens. They became separated in the panic as the town became overrun by a wall of flames — which authorities believe were started by arsonists before being fanned by strong gales. Initially Mr O'Callaghan-Westropp had been reported missing, but the Irish ambassador to Greece confirmed his body had tragically been found. Ambassador Orla O'Hanrahan said: "Our sympathies and hearts go out to his family at this time." Ireland's Ambassador to Greece Orla O'Hanrahan has confirmed the death of Brian O'Callaghan-Westropp We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>Heavy downpours brought massive floods into Athens, causing destruction in the city top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Torrential rain has caused flash flooding in several parts of Greece, leaving cars submerged in mud and local businesses destroyed. The fire brigade received over 160 calls for help in the are of Mandra and Nea Peramos in the southwest of Athens, following reports of severe flooding in the area. More than 95 firefighters, 40 vehicles and a rescue boat were deployed to help those trapped in raging floodwaters, as residents fled to safety. On Tuesday, 15 people were evacuated from flooded homes and cars, according to officials. We have serious indications and significant signs suggesting the criminal actions of arson. Nikos Toskas Floods were also reported in the Halkidiki region in norther Greece and near Larissa in central Greece, endangering residents in the area. Greece's flash floods come amid raging wildfires destroyed the seaside resort of Mati, located on the country's southern coast on Monday. The fires have since dampened down, as aerial pictures show the catastrophic aftermath of the blaze. Thousands of tourists and residents ran for their lives after raging fires spread through the town, causing many to jump in the sea to escape the blaze. Greece wildfire: Huge blaze engulfs homes At least 82 people were killed, while around 200 remain missing as emergency workers continue to search for bodies. Aerial photos of Mati show dilapidated buildings and burnt out vegetation after the fires destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. Greek authorities had said there are "serious indications" that the fire was started by arson. Civil Protection Minister Nikos Toskas said: "We have serious indications and significant signs suggesting the criminal actions of arson. Floods came after raging wildfires caused chaos in Mati, Greece "We are troubled by many factors, and there have been physical findings that are the subject of an investigation." Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said that it was poor construction which contributed to the wildfires. He said several buildings in the area were illegally built between wooden areas, which blocked escape routes, leaving people trapped in the blaze. He said: "This is a crime from the past. This coast of Athens, all these properties, the majority are without a licence, and they have occupied the coast without rules." Greece wildfires: Aerial pictures show horror of Athens wildfires Thu, July 26, 2018 Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 17 An aerial view shows burnt houses and trees following a wildfire in the village of Mati<doc-sep>Athens (AFP) - Heavy rains led to flash flooding Thursday in the north of Athens, three days after devastating wildfires killed scores of people in the region around the Greek capital. Fire services said they received at least 10 calls from motorists whose vehicles were stranded when roads became rivers after storms in the upscale districts of Maroussi and Ekali. A civil defence spokesman said "dozens of cars were stuck on several main roads" after the early afternoon downpour, adding that traffic was gradually returning to normal. Firefighters said around 160 residents were briefly trapped in their homes due to the flooding. Some rain fell on the coastal region of Mati, 25 kilometres east of the capital, where more than 80 people lost their lives on Monday night when wildfires tore through homes and hotels. The defence ministry said the army had been called in to remove debris and dig drainage channels to prevent flooding in the fire-ravaged area. The region around Athens in November saw 16 people killed in flash floods.<doc-sep>
GREECE has been hit by devastating flash floods — as the country still reels from the savage wildfires which ripped through the Attica region of the country. Heavy summer rainstorms over the past two days have caused flooding in several parts of Greece, as shocking aerial pictures have shown the seaside town of Mati destroyed by flames, The Sun reports. The country’s civil protection agency said yesterday that the fire brigade responded to 160 calls for help in the area of Mandra and Nea Peramos southwest of Athens as a result of the flash floods — the same areas which were ravaged by the winter floods in 2017, killing 24. Fifteen people needed to be evacuated from flooded homes or cars on Tuesday, officials said. Floodwaters also forced the closure of several roads in the area, and the fire brigade said 95 firefighters with 40 vehicles and a boat were helping to address the situation. Flooding problems were also reported in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece, a popular tourist destination, and near Larissa in central Greece. The devastating floods come as aerial photos show the catastrophic aftermath of wildfires in the seaside resort of Mati on the country’s southern coast, which started on Monday but have since dampened down. The fires — the deadliest in the country’s history — overwhelmed the resort town at the height of the tourist season, forcing residents and holiday-makers to run for their lives and plunge into the sea. The horror blaze killed at least 82 people, with around 200 thought to be missing although there is no official number of those unaccounted for as emergency workers continue to search for bodies, officials said. In the aerial photos of Mati, the destroyed seaside community appears singed and grey, with burnt out trees and shells of buildings. In other pictures high rise buildings stand above the scorched earth. Speaking with Sky News, Greece’s interior minister Panos Skourletis described the fires as a “national tragedy” and a “biblical disaster with human losses”. Authorities in Greece have now said there are “serious indications” that the deadly wildfire was started by arson. Earlier today, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos told the BBC illegal construction contributed to the wildfire disaster. He said building by residents between wooded areas was a “crime” that had resulted in blocking escape routes. “This is a crime from the past. This coast of Athens, all these properties, the majority are without a licence, and they have occupied the coast without rules,” Mr Kammenos said. And outside the coroner’s service in Athens, the mood was grim as relatives of victims arrived to submit information and blood samples which could assist identifications. “This is a difficult process, more difficult than other mass disasters we have dealt with,” said coroner Nikolaos Kalogrias, adding that the bodies of most of the victims were completely charred, making identification difficult. Previously, a distraught Greek father frantically searched for his missing twin daughters after believing he had spotted them on TV — only to discover it wasn’t them. Yiannis Philipopoulos made a heartbreaking televised appeal yesterday asking for help to locate Sophia and Vasiliki, both aged nine, who vanished amid the chaos of the deadly wildfires in southern Greece. He insisted he had spotted his precious girls on a news report — wrapped in blankets on a rescue boat in the port of Rafina. The brave father and his wife then spent a fruitless day searching hospitals and giving DNA samples at the Athens morgue. But another man has since come forward to say the youngsters in the footage belong to him — meaning Sophia and Vasiliki remain missing and are feared dead. The remains of Irish honeymooner Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp have been found after he and his new wife were swept up in the hellish flames in the coastal town of Mati. His new bride Zoe Holohan, who he married on Thursday, is currently being treated for serious burns in Athens. They became separated in the panic as the town became overrun by a wall of flames — which authorities believe were started by arsonists before being fanned by strong gales. Initially Mr O’Callaghan-Westropp had been reported missing, but the Irish ambassador to Greece confirmed his body had tragically been found. Ambassador Orla O’Hanrahan said: “Our sympathies and hearts go out to his family at this time.” This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission.