Fire wreaks havoc in Athens suburbs

The largest wildfire to hit Greece this year raged for a second day on Monday, spreading to the suburbs of Athens, displacing hundreds of residents, burning cars, houses and trees in its wake and enveloping the city with smoke and ash.

Firefighters reported that flames fanned by gales spread farther into the capital than they had in more than 20 years, threatening apartment buildings, schools, and parks.

The fire broke out at 3 p.m. on Sunday near the village of Varnavas, some 35 kilometers north of Athens. 

By Monday, the fire zone had expanded so much that firefighting forces were dispersed to Grammatiko and Marathonas, and then to Penteli, Dionysos, and Patima in Halandri and Vrilissia, where the municipal authority believes that at least 10 houses and scores of cars were destroyed.

The flames, which the Fire Service said reached as high as 25 meters,...