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Raging Wildfires Force Greeks to Flee
Bracing for worsening conditions, officials struggle to tame blazes
By Wesley Oliver
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Posted Aug 22, 09 5:34 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Dozens of wildfires are raging across Greece today, forcing villagers to flee and threatening to scorch ancient landmarks, the BBC reports. Fanned by gale-force winds, the flames are also creeping up on the nation's capital, where one suburb has already received evacuation orders, the AP reports. "The coming night will be especially difficult," a fire brigade spokesman said.
While scores of people have fled on foot, motorbikes, and by car, many residents are refusing to leave their homes. Priests armed with hoses have joined some homeowners in the uphill battle. No casualties are reported so far, but 75 more blazes cropped up today, making this the worst rash of fires to hit Greece since 2007, when wildfires took 70 lives.