Firefighters in Greece struggled Saturday to contain blazes north of Attica and in southern Crete, authorities said. The fires were accelerated by high winds and soaring temperatures that lowered the region's humidity, Kathimerini reported Saturday. A new fire erupted Friday near Livadia, north of Attica, while firefighters successfully contained a blaze near the popular Cretan resort of Lerapetra, Kathimerini reported.
Authorities in Athens Friday closed all roads leading to Hymettus and Pendeli mountains to protect forest land from arsonists and negligent hikers and campers.
The Peloponnesian prefecture of Ileia -- badly burned in the catastrophic fires of 2007 -- so far this year has had 68 brush fires, most of them started through negligence, authorities said.
27.07.2009
