PHOTOS/VIDEO: AT LEAST 49 DEAD AND 145 INJURED AS GREECE WILDFIRES HIT HOLIDAY RESORTS NEAR ATHENS

July 23, 2018. Greece wildfires reportedly the deadliest blaze to hit the southeastern European country in decades as over 49 casualties have been reported with over 145 injured including children as the fires spread to holiday resorts near Athens.

Speaking on the unfortunate incidence, the fire department spokeswoman, Stavroula Malliri said that 156 adults and sixteen children have been taken to hospital with various degree of injuries while also confirming that eleven of the adults are in a serious condition.

Malliri said that winds fanned the flames rapidly spreading fires into inhabited areas, trapping people who are in their homes or in their cars.

As part of the firefighting help requested from European Union, Ms Malliri said a military transport plane is arriving with 60 firefighters from Cyprus, while two water-dropping planes are expected from Spain.

More than 700 people had been rescued by sea by the coast guard as fires on either side of Athens left lines of cars torched sending hundreds of people racing to beaches to be evacuated by navy vessels, yachts and fishing boats.

Authorities have deployed the country's entire fleet of water-dropping planes and helicopters to give holidaymakers time to escape.

Military drones remained in the air in the high winds to help officials direct more than 600 firefighters below.

The mayor of the port town of Rafina, Evangelos Bournous said:

"We were unlucky. The wind changed and it came at us with such force that it razed the coastal area in minutes." 

"It's a difficult night for Greece," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said after flying back to Athens from his trip to Bosnia that was cut short.

Greek Fire Service officials issued public pleas for residents in fire-affected areas to comply with evacuation orders and not stay on in an effort trying to save their homes.

Heavy rain is forecast across southern Greece on Wednesday.