Wildfire rages in forest area near 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, the fire service said.

About 80 firefighters assisted by 12 water-carrying planes were trying to control the fire on Mount Parnitha, some 20 km (12 miles) north of Athens, which was being fuelled by gale-force winds.

"Sizeable forces on the ground are fighting a huge fight," fire brigade spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said during a televised briefing. Gusts of wind exceeding 100 km per hour (62 mph) were hampering their efforts, he said.

Another 100 firefighters stationed elsewhere in the country were expected to join those already working at the scene, Vathrakogiannis added.

A thick cloud of smoke could be seen in the sky over Athens, which is flanked by mountains, but a local...