Greece wildfire victims: 26 adults and children perish together in final embrace as they realise there's no escape from fires that claimed at least 70 lives

Firefighters search the area were 26 charred bodies were found huddled together
EPA

The bodies of 26 adults and children were today found huddled together, embracing each other, after they were overcome by a devastating wildfire in a Greek resort.

They are among at least 74 people killed as blazes swept along the coast around Athens and a state of emergency was declared.

The latest death toll was confirmed by the Greek fire brigade on Tuesday afternoon.

Rescuers discovered the 26 victims lying together near the top of a cliff overlooking a beach in the village of Mati. Many were thought to be related.

“They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn’t make it in time. Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced,” Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece’s Red Cross, told Greek TV.

At least 60 people have died in the fires
EPA

Families were trapped behind walls of thick smoke as they fled towards the sea. Flames fanned by high winds engulfed cars caught in jams, clogging escape routes. Some people made it to the shore, standing in the water or swimming out to escape the heat.

Greece forest fires - In pictures

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A mass sea evacuation was launched, with a flotilla of private boats joining military vessels, the coastguard and army helicopters to rescue more than 700 people have been rescued.

Prime minister Alexis Tsipras, cutting short a trip to Bosnia, requested emergency EU assistance from the EU and declared three days of mourning, but added: “We mustn’t let mourning overwhelm us, because these hours are hours of battle, unity, courage and above all solidarity.”

People take refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece

The youngest victim was thought to be a six-month-old baby who died from smoke inhalation, while three women and a child drowned in the sea trying to escape advancing flames.

Greece asked for US drones “to observe and detect any suspicious activity” as it emerged 15 fires had started at the same time in three different areas.

Two major blazes broke out at lunchtime yesterday, ripping through children’s camps and homes in Kineta and Mati, either side of the Greek capital.

By 9pm, gale-force winds had fanned the flames, creating thick smoke which shut motorways. Just after midnight, the first deaths were confirmed.

Mati, 25 miles east of Athens, is popular with local tourists, particularly pensioners and children at holiday camps.

Drone footage shows smoke-filled streets near the scene of the fires
AP

Local resident Andreaas Passios said: “Everything happened in seconds. I grabbed a beach towel. It saved my life. I soaked it, grabbed my wife, we ran to the sea. Gas canisters were exploding, burning pine cones flying everywhere.” Kostas Laganos said: “We went into the sea, flames chasing us all the way to the water. It burned our backs and we dived in.’” One woman told Skai TV: “Mati doesn’t even exist as a settlement anymore. I saw corpses, burned-out cars.”

Wreckage: burnt-out cars
EPA

Evangelos Bournous, mayor of Rafina, near Mati, said atleast 60 people had died in total, adding: “The wind changed and it came at us with such force that it razed the coastal area in minutes. It is a total catastrophe.”

University student Molly Thornton-Watts, from Huddersfield, messaged: “I am stuck on a coach in the middle of the wild fire in Greece rn [right now].”

Foreign Office sources said they were not aware of any UK citizens killed or injured “at this stage”. Greek interior minister Panos Skourletis described a “biblical disaster”. Authorities deployed the country’s entire fleet of water-dropping planes and helicopters.

Medics assist with locals with breathing apparatus 
EPA

European Council president Donald Tusk said: “Europe will stand by our Greek friends in these difficult times. Help is on its way.” Spain, Italy, Germany, and Turkey have offered help.

Nine coastal patrol boats, two military vessels and “dozens” of private boats assisted by helicopters helped those stuck in Rafina harbour. Fire department spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri said that 156 adults and 16 children have been taken to hospital with injuries. Eleven of the adults are in a serious condition. Harrowing images showed charred bodies in the street.

Western and Eastern Attica were declared in state of emergency by local authorities
Rex Features

Relatives and friends were today desperately trying to reach loved ones, appealing for information on social media.

Eileen Leahy wrote: “This is catastrophic. Greece needs urgent assistance. I have very close friends who live near to these fires. I haven’t managed to get through to them as yet.”

Fire crews today said the Mati fire was reducing in intensity but was still not fully under control. Ten brush and forest fireswere still burning across Greece today, including in Corinth, Crete, and central and northern Greece.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the wildfires. We will do all we can to assist any British people who require our help.”

The Foreign Office told travellers to Greece to “keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of the Greek authorities”.Flights to Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport have been diverted due to the thick smoke.

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