Dozens of forest fires, fanned by strong winds in a six-day heatwave, continued across central and southern Greece today, killing two people and burning scores of houses.
The two men died of smoke inhalation when a fire near the central Greek town of Agia encircled their car, forcing them to flee in vain on foot.
Further south, hundreds of firefighters, five airplanes and helicopters battled a blaze that had started some 70 km north of Athens but was now closing in on Mount Parnitha, 30 km north of the capital.
Exploding World War Two mines deep in the lush pine forest near Dervenochoria, about 80 km north of Athens, was further hampering firefighters' work.
"This is a very difficult night. There are some signs of optimism and we will fight this all night," Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras told reporters. More than 130 fires had broken out in the past 48 hours, he said.
The fire started in Dervenochoria before another part of the forest further south caught fire, sending a huge plume of thick black smoke rising into the sky, visible from all over Athens.
The Greek air force ordered the helicopter evacuation of its staff on its radar station on top of Parnitha, while summer camps, a casino and houses in the area were also evacuated.
Fire brigade officials said many of the fires had been triggered by explosions of electricity pylons due to the heat but in some cases they were investigating arson attacks.
Polydoras said they had found that some fires in the past two days had been started deliberately.
Temperatures across the country held above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for a sixth consecutive day, stretching emergency service and power demand. Temperatures reached 46C earlier this week.