A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Athens as wildfires continue to rage across areas surrounding the Greek capital. The fires have killed more than 60 people and injured more than 100 in Greece's worst fires in over a decade. Here's everything you need to know about where the fires are, how wildfires start and whether it's safe to travel to the Greek tourist village of Mati, near Athens. Where are the fires? Fires have been burning in the Attica region of Greece which encompasses the capital of Athens. The first fire started in a pine forest near the seaside settlement of Kineta 30 miles west of Athens between the capital and Corinth, an ancient city. The second major fire broke out on Monday afternoon in the Penteli and Rafina areas of northeast Athens. Rafina is a port town popular with tourists, especially pensioners and children attending holiday camps. At the centre of the disaster is the village of Mati, located in the region of Rafina, where 26 bodies were found in the yard of a villa. Loading.... How do wildfires start? Hot weather riddled with drought and strong winds create the perfect conditions for a wildfire to blaze for weeks and possibly even months. Although wildfires can occur naturally, most wildfires are caused by human carelessness including the improper discarding of cigarettes, arson, campfires, not burning debris properly or misusing fireworks, matches or other flammable items. Wildfires can also be triggered by lightning. Fires are a common problem during the dry, summer months in Attica, and this week's flames were spurred on by strong winds. Officials said the current fires may have been started by arsonists looking to loot abandoned homes. Greece forest fires - In pictures 1 /40 Greece forest fires - In pictures In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP A firefighter wears a flame resistant uniform as wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece People stock up on supplies at a shop in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP Damaged beach facilities at Kineta near Athens Rex Features A pall of smoke turns large parts of the sky orange over the ancient Acropolis hill, Rex Features A woman reacts as she tries to find her dog, following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Reuters People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP Burned cars remain after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece EPA People bring supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP Memders of Red Cross give fist-aid to residents after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece, EPA A firefighter tries to extinguish hotspots during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images Firefighters and soldiers fall back as a wildfire burns near Athens Reuters A house is threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images A firefighter sprays water on the fire in the town of Mati, east of Athens AP A helicopter tries to extinguish flames from the fire in Penteli, north suburb of Athens, Greece EPA Cars are blocked at the closed National Road during a forest fire in Greece AFP/Getty Images Rescuers wait at the area where bodies were found following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece REUTERS Burnt cars are still in the driveways of destroyed house in Kineta village, west of Athens AP People watch a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters Firefighters try to extinguish flames during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens, Greece EPA Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens AFP/Getty Images A house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images A firefighter reacts as a house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images Rescuers and volunteers help local people evacuate the village of Mati during a wildfire near Athens AFP/Getty Images Firefighters inspect a burned compound in Mati, east of Athens AP A man passes burned cars in Mati, east of Athens AP Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks to the media during his visit to the fire brigade's operational centre in Athens, Greece EPA A wildfire rages in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greec Reuters A house burns following a wildfire at Neos Voutzas, near Athens, Reuters A fireman sprays water outside a burnt house at Kineta village, west of Athens AP Is it safe to travel to Mati? The Foreign Office has said that most visits to Greece, including to Athens, are unaffected. However, flights to Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport have been diverted due to poor visibility. Motorways and train lines have also been halted, with Reuters reporting that the main Athens-Corinth motorway has been closed.<doc-sep>Greece fires: Residents flee the blaze by boat FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. 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. Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared a state of emergency after separate infernos tore through seaside resorts west, east and north-east of Athens. One group of 26, including children, died after being trapped by flames which engulfed the town of Mati, 18 miles east of the capital. Officials say the wildfires are the worst to hit the country since 2007. Witnesses reported seeing corpses, while shocking images have shown burnt-out cars and thick black clouds of smoke. Is it safe to travel to Greece? Several fires are currently ranging as shown by a live map provided by the EFFIS (European Forest Fire Information System). One of the largest blazes being tackled by emergency services is in Kineta. The beach town sits in West Attica about 35 miles west of Athens and is popular with tourists. Greece wildfires: Shocking damage pictures show devastation in Athens Tue, July 24, 2018 Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 15 Burned cars are seen following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the wildfires were “confined to limited areas” and it was still safe for tourists to travel to Greece. A FCO statement, released this morning, said: “There have been wildfires in a number of areas in southern Greece, including close to Athens. “They have been confined to limited areas, but within those the impact has been high, with significant loss of life; most visits to Greece, including to Athens, are unaffected.” Travellers are being urged to monitor reports, while the hotline number 020 7008 1500 has been set up for people worried about British nationals in Greece. Greece fires MAPPED: The wildfires are represented by the red dots Greece fires MAPPED: The wildfires have killed at least 50 people An ABTA spokesperson said the wildfires were located in the north-east of Athens in the Penteli area and 50km west of Athens. They said: “This area isn’t a main destination for UK tourists. People on holiday in the region are advised to monitor news reports and follow any advice or instructions issued by the local authorities, their travel company or their accommodation providers. “Anyone due to travel imminently to the areas affected should speak to their travel company or accommodation provider.” Flights to and from Athens International Airport are running, although some were diverted earlier due to poor visibility cause by thick plumes of smoke. Greece fires MAPPED: Firefighters at a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a north-east suburb of Athens<doc-sep>Greece wildfire: Huge blaze engulfs homes 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. At least 49 persons were killed during a devastating forest fire which broke out east of Athens on Monday, a senior fire brigade official said. The blaze which hit Mati, 29 km (18 miles) east of the capital, late Monday afternoon looks set to be the country's worst since flames devastated the southern Peloponnese peninsula in August 2007, killing dozens. People scrambled to the sea as the blaze closed in close to the shore. Hundreds were rescued by passing boats but others found their way blocked by smoke and flames. "I was briefed by a rescuer that he saw the shocking picture of 26 people tightly huddled in a field some 30 metres from the beach," Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece's Red Cross, told Skai TV. Cyprus and Spain offered assistance after Greece said it needed air and land assets from European Union partners. But the country is not the only one to be suffering from devastating wildfires. A revealing map from the European Forest Fire Information System showed the shocking extent of the fires sweeping Europe. And it seems along with Greece, Sweden and Italy have been hit hard by the recent heatwave. Europe wildfires: Fires have broken out in Greece, Italy and Sweden Europe wildfires LIVE tracker - LIVE locations of devastating fires Wildfires have broken out across Europe - and this wildfire map below shows exactly where the blazes have broken out in the last day. The map shows the biggest concentration of fires in Greece is centred around Kineta, to the west of Athens. While one on the east coast, near Nea Makri, is where 26 bodies were found today. More than 70 firefighters with 30 fire engines and five water-dropping helicopters battled the blaze, while some householders took up hosepipes to douse the flames which broke out near Kineta, about 54 km (35 miles) west of the city. To view the live map, click here. Greece fires: Fire danger forecast for many parts of Europe Greece fires map: Blazes have killed at least 50 Greece fires: Most of the fires are centered in Kineta Sweden is also fighting a historic amount of large wildfires as the country is experiencing its worst drought since records began. The four biggest fires, which make up 20,000 hectares, are ”impossible” to extinguish due to their magnitude according to officials. And so far, up to 500 people have been evacuated from their homes during the worst wildfires to hit Sweden since records began. "I want to make this clear: the biggest fires will not be possible to extinguish right now,” Dan Eliasson, director-general of Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) told Swedish Radio on Friday. Greece wildfires: Devastating pictures show wildfires in Athens Thu, July 26, 2018 More than 300 firefighters, five aircraft and two helicopters have been mobilised to tackle the "extremely difficult" situation due to strong gusts of wind Play slideshow 1 of 33 A wall of burned-out cars lines an Athens street<doc-sep>Greece fires: Aftermath of blaze shows destruction of Mati 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. The group of 26, including adults and children, were found lying huddled together mere metres from the ocean. Nikos Economopoulos, the head of Greece's Red Cross, told Skai TV: “They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn't make it in time. Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced.” Greece has declared three days of national mourning over the “unspeakable tragedy” in Greece’s worst fire in more than a decade. Other wildfires have spread across neighbouring regions of Athens including Kineta in West Attica and the Penteli area, north-east of the capital. Where is Mati in Greece? Where are the fires? Mati is a beachside Greek resort town, located about 18 miles (29 kilometres) eat of Athens. The popular tourist destination provides a stop-off point for island-hopping holidaymakers, with many bars and cafes. The once vibrant town now lies silent with many people searching for their loved ones and pets amongst the charred landscape. Greece wildfires: Devastating pictures show wildfires in Athens Thu, July 26, 2018 More than 300 firefighters, five aircraft and two helicopters have been mobilised to tackle the "extremely difficult" situation due to strong gusts of wind Play slideshow 1 of 33 A wall of burned-out cars lines an Athens street Almost 700 people were rescued by the shoreline by emergency crews and locals, although the local coastguard said six more bodies were pulled dead from the sea. Evangelos Bournous, mayor of nearby Rafina-Pikermi, said the death toll was expected to rise. Where else are the fires? Fires are raging across the Attica region of Greece, surrounding Athens. GREECE FIRE: Aerial footage shows extent of devastating blaze Greece fires map: Emergency services are battling the blazes across Attica On Monday, residents living in the Kineta, about 30 miles west of Athens, were urged to leave their homes as a massive blaze took hold. Another fire also began in the areas of Penteli and Rafina, north-east of Athens. Emergency services said Mati’s fire was still out of control but its spread had been slowed by a drop in winds on Tuesday. The government is using drones to detect any suspicious activity accounting for their cause. Greece fires map - Mati wildfire map: Where the fires took hold<doc-sep>
GREECE FIRE: Blaze forces residents to flee their homes Reports that at least 60 people have been killed came this morning as the Red Cross reported finding 26 bodies in the yard of a villa at the centre of the disaster. The death toll had previously stood at 24, in Greece’s worst fire crisis for more than a decade. Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece's Red Cross, told Skai TV: "I was briefed by a rescuer that he saw the shocking picture of 26 people tightly huddled in a field some 30 metres from the beach. "They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn't make it in time." More than 100 have been injured as fires broke out on Monday in the wake of an intense heatwave in the country. Residents and tourists had been seen fleeing to beaches towards the sea in order to escape the unyielding flames. Boats and helicopters have been used by emergency workers to evacuate those seeking shelter on one beach. There are hundreds of firefighters working to get the blaze under control, as authorities ask for international assistance. Greece fires: Blazes have broken out across Greece and neighbouring Italy Where are the wildfires? Fires broke out on Monday afternoon in Mati Village, 18 miles east of Athens. A popular tourist destination, Mati is in the Rafina region of Greece and is home to resorts and holiday villas. "Mati doesn't even exist as a settlement anymore," one woman told Greece's Skai TV. "I saw corpses, burned-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive." The main Athens-Corinth motorway, one of two routes to the Peloponnese peninsula, was closed and all train services were cancelled. Two fires are currently blazing in Greece, with one on the west coast The fires began near Mati Village on the east coast of Greece The previous worst fire in recent times for Greece was in August 2007 on the southern Peloponnese Peninsula. This blaze killed 84 people, including firefighters and lasted until early September. However, the current wildfires have already surpassed 2007’s death toll, and are continuing to blaze. Greece has issued a plea for help and declared a state of emergency, with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras saying: "We are dealing with something completely asymmetric.” Greece fire: Driver revs car before charging through blaze The fires have claimed the lives of at least 50 people The Prime Minister cut short a visit to Bosnia to return to his country amidst the fires and declared that "all emergency forces have been mobilised”. "We will do whatever is humanly possible to control it," he said. Cyprus and Spain have offered assistance to Greece after their plea requested help in both air and land. Countries including Italy, Germany, Poland and France have also sent help supplying additional planes, vehicles and firefighters. Greece wildfires: Devastating pictures show wildfires in Athens Thu, July 26, 2018 More than 300 firefighters, five aircraft and two helicopters have been mobilised to tackle the "extremely difficult" situation due to strong gusts of wind Play slideshow 1 of 33 A wall of burned-out cars lines an Athens street