This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6965078.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Greek forest fires reward offered | Greek forest fires reward offered |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch the arsonists suspected of being behind Greek forest fires which have killed at least 60. | A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch the arsonists suspected of being behind Greek forest fires which have killed at least 60. |
| New fires continue to break out, with firefighters contending with 63 fresh blazes on Sunday in what officials called an "unprecedented disaster". | New fires continue to break out, with firefighters contending with 63 fresh blazes on Sunday in what officials called an "unprecedented disaster". |
| The authorities have already arrested several people over the fires. | The authorities have already arrested several people over the fires. |
| Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, was also threatened but firefighters kept the site safe. | Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, was also threatened but firefighters kept the site safe. |
| Culture Minister George Voulgarakis has arrived in Olympia to oversee the emergency effort. | Culture Minister George Voulgarakis has arrived in Olympia to oversee the emergency effort. |
| name="go back"> | |
| He said: "As you can see, the archaeological museum and the archaeological site, Olympia, is as it was. | He said: "As you can see, the archaeological museum and the archaeological site, Olympia, is as it was. |
| See map of affected areas | See map of affected areas |
| "All the people, the firefighters, the policemen, the volunteers, they fought with the fire and the museum is as it was." | "All the people, the firefighters, the policemen, the volunteers, they fought with the fire and the museum is as it was." |
| He added: "There is a big problem in the region, in the area. But the important [thing] is that the archaeological site will not have any problem." | He added: "There is a big problem in the region, in the area. But the important [thing] is that the archaeological site will not have any problem." |
| Helicopters and fire engines | Helicopters and fire engines |
| Nikos Diamandis, a Greek fire department spokesman, told the Associated Press news agency: "Fires are burning in more than half the country. This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece." | Nikos Diamandis, a Greek fire department spokesman, told the Associated Press news agency: "Fires are burning in more than half the country. This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece." |
| The reward, put up by the Greek government, is for anyone providing information which leads to the arrest of an arsonist. | The reward, put up by the Greek government, is for anyone providing information which leads to the arrest of an arsonist. |
| The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire | The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire |
| A Greek government statement read: "The reward is set between 100,000 and 1m euros for every [act] of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage." | A Greek government statement read: "The reward is set between 100,000 and 1m euros for every [act] of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage." |
| The fires could have been started as a way of getting around Greek law which forbids development on areas designated as forest land. | The fires could have been started as a way of getting around Greek law which forbids development on areas designated as forest land. |
| Meanwhile in ancient Olympia, flames licked the edges of the original Olympic stadium and scorched the yard of the museum, home to one of Greece's greatest archaeological collections. | Meanwhile in ancient Olympia, flames licked the edges of the original Olympic stadium and scorched the yard of the museum, home to one of Greece's greatest archaeological collections. |
| A fire brigade spokesman said that six planes, two helicopters, 15 fire engines and 45 firemen had participated in the effort to protect the site. | A fire brigade spokesman said that six planes, two helicopters, 15 fire engines and 45 firemen had participated in the effort to protect the site. |
| Fires also ravaged large parts of Greece, affecting the Peloponnese, areas around Athens and Evia island. | Fires also ravaged large parts of Greece, affecting the Peloponnese, areas around Athens and Evia island. |
| On Sunday five bodies were found on Evia, north of the capital, Athens. | On Sunday five bodies were found on Evia, north of the capital, Athens. |
| Athens itself was shrouded in smoke that obscured the sun as several fires threatened the city's outskirts. | Athens itself was shrouded in smoke that obscured the sun as several fires threatened the city's outskirts. |
| Foreign help | Foreign help |
| The rapidly advancing fires caught many people unaware. Those who left the decision to flee too late were caught in their houses, cars, or as they stumbled through olive groves. | The rapidly advancing fires caught many people unaware. Those who left the decision to flee too late were caught in their houses, cars, or as they stumbled through olive groves. |
| At least 39 people were reported to have been killed in the worst affected region, around the town of Zaharo in the western Peloponnese, by a fire that broke out on Friday and quickly spread. | At least 39 people were reported to have been killed in the worst affected region, around the town of Zaharo in the western Peloponnese, by a fire that broke out on Friday and quickly spread. |
| Another four bodies were discovered in the central Peloponnese region of Arcadia. | Another four bodies were discovered in the central Peloponnese region of Arcadia. |
| A 65-year-old man has been charged with arson and murder relating to a fire which killed six people in Areopolis, in the far south of Greece. | A 65-year-old man has been charged with arson and murder relating to a fire which killed six people in Areopolis, in the far south of Greece. |
| Two youths were also detained on suspicion of arson in the northern city of Kavala. | Two youths were also detained on suspicion of arson in the northern city of Kavala. |
| Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has declared a nationwide state of emergency and said the country had to "mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster". | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has declared a nationwide state of emergency and said the country had to "mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster". |
| Emergency workers and fire-fighting planes from other European Union countries have joined the battle against the fires, and more help is expected from countries outside the EU. | Emergency workers and fire-fighting planes from other European Union countries have joined the battle against the fires, and more help is expected from countries outside the EU. |
| Return | Return |
| 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. |
| Click here to see terms and conditions | Click here to see terms and conditions |
| 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. |