Rubio arrives in Jeddah ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks, expresses optimism for peace negotiations    Minister of Interior: Those 8 months led to a 'turning point' for Saudi women    Saudi justice minister calls for clear and consistent legal reasoning in rulings    Jeddah Historic District draws 1 million visitors in first week of Ramadan    Liquidity in Saudi economy records annual growth of SR236 billion in 2024    PIF launches Al Waha — the first Saudi-owned duty-free retail operator    GASTAT: Industrial production index rises 1.3% in January    Grand Mosque cleaning teams complete full sanitation in just 35 minutes    Romanian far-right presidential hopeful barred from poll rerun    Canada's next leader takes aim at Trump, vows to win trade war    Grown frustrated with the republic, many Nepalis want the monarchy back    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Saudi Exchange approves Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia as Market Maker on eight listed securities    Al Shabab stuns 10-man Al Nassr with late equalizer; Al Hilal closes gap at the top    Saudi taekwondo star Dunia Abu Talib wins IOC gender equality award for Asia    Kanté rescues Al Ittihad with last-gasp equalizer against Al Qadsiah    Mitrović returns to boost Al Hilal ahead of crucial clashes, Savić sidelined    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with 'Biennale Nights' in Jeddah    Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed appointed artistic directors for 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Firefighters battle to contain wildfire near Athens
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 20 - 08 - 2009

Firefighters battled to contain several wildfires raging out of control near Athens today, sending panicked
residents fleeing from their homes and burning factories, dpa reported.
More than 100 firefighters assisted by five firefighting planes
and four helicopters battled to put out the fire just west of Athens,
near the industrial area of Magoula and Elefsina while strong winds
fanned the blaze.
The fire had quickly spread from a forested mountain in the area
of Magoula to an industrial site, burning factories and warehouses.
Reports said firefighter planes were prevented from flying for
several hours due to strong gale force winds. Residents, armed with
buckets and hoses, could be seen battling to put out the flames.
Traffic was jammed for hours as officials shut off the main road
leading to Magoula as a safety precaution.
In the last 24 hours more than 60 forest fires were reported to
have broken out across the country.
Another blaze, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds, was
reported to be burning out of control in central Greece near the town
of Astakos, damaging at least a dozen homes. Some 50 firefighters, 11
fire engines and three aircraft were trying to extinguish the flames.
Two more blazes were reported near Marathona and the Athens
residential area of Markopoulos.
Firefighters were also battling wildfires on the holiday island of
Kafallonia, the Aegean island of Limnos and in the northern town of
Kavala.
Forest fires have become more frequent in Greece in recent
summers, triggered by high temperatures and drought, but also arson.
Greece declared a state of emergency in 2007 during 10 days of
blazes that killed more than 80 people on the island of Evia and the
western Peloponnese.


Clic here to read the story from its source.