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Wildfire fanned by strong wind rages near Athens

Wildfire fanned by strong wind rages near Athens
 
Wildfire fanned by strong wind rages near Athens
ATHENS: Dozens of firefighters were battling on Saturday to stop a wildfire from spreading to a nature reserve in a mountainous forest area on the outskirts of the Greek capital.

About 80 firefighters assisted by 10 water-carrying planes were trying to control the fire on Mount Parnitha, some 20 km north of Athens, which was being fuelled by gale-force winds.

A thick cloud of smoke could be seen in the sky over Athens, but a local governor said no homes were threatened by the fire. 'The situation is stable so far,' a deputy governor for part of Athens, Costas Zobos said. — Reuters