Death toll from Greece fires rises to 74
Greece’s fire officials said the death toll from forest fires that raged through seaside resorts near the Greek capital has increased to 74.
Fire Service spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri said Tuesday afternoon that the death toll had increased from 50 to 74, adding that a further 164 adults and 23 children were still being treated in hospitals for injuries.
Two main fires broke out Monday, one to the west of Athens near the town of Kineta and one to the northeast near the port of Rafina. Both were fanned by gale-force winds Monday that hampered firefighting efforts and sent hundreds of people fleeing to beaches, from where they were evacuated on boats late at night.
It was the Rafina fire which appears to have been the deadliest by far.
UPDATES:
7:55 p.m.: This article was updated with the death toll at 74.
This article was originally published at 12:55 a.m.
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