ATHENS: Hundreds of firefighters on Saturday battled for a second day a large wildfire near Athens that left one dead, with strong winds raising fears it could spread. A fire department spokesman said over 260 firefighters with nearly 80 fire engines and 12 aircraft were deployed in Keratea, a rural area some 43 kilometers (27 miles) southeast of Athens. “The fire has weakened but there are still active pockets,” the spokesman told AFP. Dozens of people were evacuated late Friday from homes and an elderly care center as the flames neared the nearby coastal resort of Palea Fokea.

After hiring new firefighters and purchasing additional aircraft and drones, the country has reported a 34% decrease in burned areas since the start of 2025.

Across the country, more than 50 agricultural and forest fires have broken out in the past 24 hours - one of the worst days this summer.