Greece wildfires: Death toll rises to 79 after 'biblical disaster' as rescuers search charred homes

13:06, 25.07.2018

The death toll in Greece after some of the worst wildfires this century has risen to 79, as rescue workers continue to search charred homes and burnt-out cars.

Many villagers and holidaymakers fled to the sea to try to escape flames that tore through coastal resorts near Athens. They were stoked by high winds, reducing pine forests to ash and devouring hundreds of buildings, The Telegraph reported.

Residents and terrified holidaymakers were overtaken by the flames in homes, on foot or in their cars. Survivors told of a “biblical disaster” that Greek media described as a “national tragedy”, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit to Bosnia and announced three days of national mourning.

The government has not yet said how many people are still missing from the fires, which broke out on Monday, as firefighters continue to battle blazes in some areas. It is feared the death toll could rise to at least 100.

The death toll already surpasses that from the blazes that hit Greece’s southern island of Evia in 2007, in which 77 people perished.

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