Firefighters battle to contain two wildfires near Athens

Residents in two areas near Athens were ordered to evacuate on Sunday as dozens of firefighters battled to contain blazes fuelled by strong winds and hot temperatures.

Near the village of Varnava, some 35 km north of the capital, more than 190 firefighters were trying to contain a fire that had reached homes by late afternoon. They were backed up by 40 trucks, 11 water-bombing aircraft and five helicopters.

Fire crews were also tackling a fire in a forested area near the town of Megara, west of Athens.

The fires sent thick brown smoke over parts of Athens.

Several other regions across Greece were on high alert for fire risk on Sunday and Monday.

Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Greece this summer, which just recorded its hottest June and July on record after its warmest winter. Like elsewhere in the Mediterranean, scientists have...