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| Fires kill 15 in southern Greece | Fires kill 15 in southern Greece |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least 15 people have been killed in southern Greece on the deadliest day of wildfires this year. | At least 15 people have been killed in southern Greece on the deadliest day of wildfires this year. |
| Officials are unable to enter some areas to check for further casualties as fires still rage out of control. | Officials are unable to enter some areas to check for further casualties as fires still rage out of control. |
| Among the fatalities was a volunteer fireman who suffered a heart attack as he tackled one of more than 100 blazes. | Among the fatalities was a volunteer fireman who suffered a heart attack as he tackled one of more than 100 blazes. |
| At least nine people are reported to have burned to death in their cars as they attempted to flee the flames in the western Peloponnese region. | At least nine people are reported to have burned to death in their cars as they attempted to flee the flames in the western Peloponnese region. |
| The victims, driving near the town of Zahero, were surrounded by a wall of fire and could not break through. | The victims, driving near the town of Zahero, were surrounded by a wall of fire and could not break through. |
| A local prefect close to the scene described it as horrific. | A local prefect close to the scene described it as horrific. |
| The helicopters are operating whenever the weather conditions permit... the pilots are making incredible efforts Fire official Nikos Diamandis class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6963192.stm">In pictures: Greek wildfires | |
| "The situation is extremely dire... The speed with which this fire has been spreading is astonishing," said the mayor of Zahero, Pantazis Chronopoulos. | "The situation is extremely dire... The speed with which this fire has been spreading is astonishing," said the mayor of Zahero, Pantazis Chronopoulos. |
| Six deaths have been confirmed in the seaside town of Areopolis in the Mani region of Greece's deep south. Hotels and several villages have been evacuated, fire officials said. | Six deaths have been confirmed in the seaside town of Areopolis in the Mani region of Greece's deep south. Hotels and several villages have been evacuated, fire officials said. |
| Scores of other people in the region have been taken to hospital with burns. | Scores of other people in the region have been taken to hospital with burns. |
| Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is travelling to the worst-affected areas. | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is travelling to the worst-affected areas. |
| The government has announced a state of emergency in the provinces of Lakonia and Messinia and has asked the European Union for aid. | The government has announced a state of emergency in the provinces of Lakonia and Messinia and has asked the European Union for aid. |
| Incredible efforts | Incredible efforts |
| The biggest fires are raging out of control, whipped up by dry winds gusting up to gale force, which have hampered the efforts of water-dropping aircraft. | The biggest fires are raging out of control, whipped up by dry winds gusting up to gale force, which have hampered the efforts of water-dropping aircraft. |
| Some helicopters have managed to take flight and their crews have been praised for heroism in the most difficult conditions. | Some helicopters have managed to take flight and their crews have been praised for heroism in the most difficult conditions. |
| More than 100 fires are burning across Greece | More than 100 fires are burning across Greece |
| "The helicopters are operating whenever the weather conditions permit... The pilots are making incredible efforts," fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis said. | "The helicopters are operating whenever the weather conditions permit... The pilots are making incredible efforts," fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis said. |
| At nightfall they will be grounded and there is no sign of the winds dying down. | At nightfall they will be grounded and there is no sign of the winds dying down. |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the large number of deaths has transformed what had previously been seen as a predominantly ecological disaster. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the large number of deaths has transformed what had previously been seen as a predominantly ecological disaster. |
| There has been widespread public anger at the government's response, which many have criticised as inadequate and slow. | There has been widespread public anger at the government's response, which many have criticised as inadequate and slow. |