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| Fires prompt Greek national alert | Fires prompt Greek national alert |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A nationwide state of emergency has been declared in Greece, amid a rising death toll from raging forest fires | A nationwide state of emergency has been declared in Greece, amid a rising death toll from raging forest fires |
| Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said the country had to "mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster". | Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said the country had to "mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster". |
| Officials say 46 people have died in the past two days and many others may be trapped, as scores of blazes swept the Peloponnesian peninsula. | |
| Campaigning for the country's general election has been suspended. Analysts say the vote may have to be postponed. | Campaigning for the country's general election has been suspended. Analysts say the vote may have to be postponed. |
| Blackened skies | Blackened skies |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Pyrgos, says radio stations are being inundated with calls from people in remote mountain villages saying they are surrounded by fire. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Pyrgos, says radio stations are being inundated with calls from people in remote mountain villages saying they are surrounded by fire. |
| We are living through an unspeakable tragedy today Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis In pictures: Forest fires Witnesses tell of fire horror | We are living through an unspeakable tragedy today Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis In pictures: Forest fires Witnesses tell of fire horror |
| Meanwhile, many bodies had been taken to a mortuary in the city of Patras. | Meanwhile, many bodies had been taken to a mortuary in the city of Patras. |
| Our correspondent said relatives of the dead were sobbing quietly in the hospital corridors, waiting for a chance to identify their loved ones. | Our correspondent said relatives of the dead were sobbing quietly in the hospital corridors, waiting for a chance to identify their loved ones. |
| Almost 200 fires have been reported - there were about 70 new blazes during Saturday, while many others continued to burn from the previous day. | Almost 200 fires have been reported - there were about 70 new blazes during Saturday, while many others continued to burn from the previous day. |
| Strong winds have blown smoke and ash towards Athens 330km (206 miles) away, starting more fires and blocking out the sun over the capital. | Strong winds have blown smoke and ash towards Athens 330km (206 miles) away, starting more fires and blocking out the sun over the capital. |
| Burnt-out houses | Burnt-out houses |
| Officials say they suspect some of the fires were started deliberately, and Mr Karamanlis promised to bring any culprits to justice. | Officials say they suspect some of the fires were started deliberately, and Mr Karamanlis promised to bring any culprits to justice. |
| "No-one has the right to take human lives and destroy the environment... to destroy our country." | "No-one has the right to take human lives and destroy the environment... to destroy our country." |
| Most of the dead came from villages near the town of Zaharo, on the west coast of the Peloponnesian peninsula. | Most of the dead came from villages near the town of Zaharo, on the west coast of the Peloponnesian peninsula. |
| At least nine people are reported to have burnt to death in their cars as they attempted to flee the flames near Zaharo. | At least nine people are reported to have burnt to death in their cars as they attempted to flee the flames near Zaharo. |
| The Associated Press news agency reported that a car had crashed into a fire engine, causing a traffic jam from which people could not escape as the flames advanced. | The Associated Press news agency reported that a car had crashed into a fire engine, causing a traffic jam from which people could not escape as the flames advanced. |
| Fire crews said they had found at least 30 bodies in villages near Zaharo as they searched burned out cars and houses. | Fire crews said they had found at least 30 bodies in villages near Zaharo as they searched burned out cars and houses. |
| "It's a tragedy," an eyewitness told Greek television. "I can see the burnt bodies of a mother holding her child in her arms. Further away there are more bodies. It's terrible." | "It's a tragedy," an eyewitness told Greek television. "I can see the burnt bodies of a mother holding her child in her arms. Further away there are more bodies. It's terrible." |
| Fire officials confirmed that a mother and her four children had perished, as had three firefighters. | Fire officials confirmed that a mother and her four children had perished, as had three firefighters. |
| 'Astonishing speed' | 'Astonishing speed' |
| A local official close to the scene described it as horrific. | A local official close to the scene described it as horrific. |
| "The situation is extremely dire... The speed with which this fire has been spreading is astonishing," said the mayor of Zaharo, Pantazis Chronopoulos. | "The situation is extremely dire... The speed with which this fire has been spreading is astonishing," said the mayor of Zaharo, Pantazis Chronopoulos. |
| Fires burnt all through Saturday around Zaharo | Fires burnt all through Saturday around Zaharo |
| Six deaths were 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 were 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. |
| A hot, dry summer, with temperatures recently touching 40C (104F) has made much of the country vulnerable. | A hot, dry summer, with temperatures recently touching 40C (104F) has made much of the country vulnerable. |
| Firefighters have already battled ferocious fires this summer, but the current outbreak is thought to be the most serious for decades. | Firefighters have already battled ferocious fires this summer, but the current outbreak is thought to be the most serious for decades. |
| Some 500 soldiers have been sent to affected areas and the Greek government has appealed to its EU partners for help. | Some 500 soldiers have been sent to affected areas and the Greek government has appealed to its EU partners for help. |
| So far France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have promised to send firefighting aircraft. | So far France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have promised to send firefighting aircraft. |
| 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. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |