Greek wildfires continue raging

Forest fires in the north of Athens continued raging on Monday despite the mobilization of more water-bombing aircraft and rescue assistance from other European Union ( EU) states, Xinhua reported.
   The fire near the Greek capital, the most dangerous of six wildfires starting north of the Marathon plain and spreading over Mount Penteli on the northern edge of Athens, has now entered its fourth day.
   As many as 17 water-bombing aircraft and helicopters were kept busy on Monday trying to put out the blazes before winds gained speed, or at least block them from reaching the capital.
   "We (are) making every possible effort to limit the boundaries of the fire," said Fire Service spokesman Yiannis Kappakis. "There are some signs of optimism but no letting up of the firefighting effort."
   "We have a chance to contain this nightmare that has burned the city's main forest area," he added.
   There are up to 2,000 Greek firefighters, military personnel and volunteers fighting the fire, with the help of firefighting planes from Italy, France and Cyprus.
   Spain, Turkey and some other EU nations will also send in planes later Monday and Tuesday to help extinguish the fires, which have burned down 37,000 acres of forest and brush and scores of houses, and forced thousands to evacuate.
   According to the Greek Health Ministry, there have been no casualties in the fires, though about five people received treatment for breathing problems.
   Facing criticism for the lack of preparedness for big fires, government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said on Monday that the firefighting effort was well-coordinated and the government had mobilized "from the first moment" "the presence of personnel on a large scale."
   Because of its dry and hot weather, Greece witnesses a lot of forest fires every year, with one of the most serious fires occurring in 2007 and killing 76 people.