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Greece funeral for blaze victims Greece funeral for blaze victims
(1 day later)
Hundreds of mourners in southern Greece have attended a funeral of a mother and her four children who were killed last week by raging forest fires.Hundreds of mourners in southern Greece have attended a funeral of a mother and her four children who were killed last week by raging forest fires.
Athanasia Paraskevopoulou was found dead still clutching her children, in what has become the most tragic image of the flames' trail of destruction.Athanasia Paraskevopoulou was found dead still clutching her children, in what has become the most tragic image of the flames' trail of destruction.
Firefighters are still battling the blazes, mainly in the southern region of Peloponnese, officials say.Firefighters are still battling the blazes, mainly in the southern region of Peloponnese, officials say.
At least 63 people have died since the fires started 10 days ago.At least 63 people have died since the fires started 10 days ago.
Emotional funeralEmotional funeral
Some 500 black-clad mourners gathered for the funeral of Ms Paraskevopoulou and her four children - Angeliki, Maria, Anastassia and Constantinos - in the village of Artemida in Peloponnese.Some 500 black-clad mourners gathered for the funeral of Ms Paraskevopoulou and her four children - Angeliki, Maria, Anastassia and Constantinos - in the village of Artemida in Peloponnese.
Our only hope is that they did not suffer too much, that they died from the smoke Athanasia Paraskevopoulou's relative href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188818933/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188818933/html/1.stm', '1188819056', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">See how Greece has been affected by the fires href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188818933/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188818933/html/1.stm', '1188819056', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
Last week the family desperately tried to escape the flames by car, only to find the road blocked due to an accident. They then ran, but were caught by an inferno travelling at nearly 100mph (160km/h).Last week the family desperately tried to escape the flames by car, only to find the road blocked due to an accident. They then ran, but were caught by an inferno travelling at nearly 100mph (160km/h).
Their charred bodies were found near the village.Their charred bodies were found near the village.
On Sunday, the mourners broke into applause as the police honour guard shouldered arms and five hearses drew up outside the packed village church, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Artemida says.On Sunday, the mourners broke into applause as the police honour guard shouldered arms and five hearses drew up outside the packed village church, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Artemida says.
A child wailed in grief as the coffins - a black casket for the mother and four white coffins for the children - were carried inside.A child wailed in grief as the coffins - a black casket for the mother and four white coffins for the children - were carried inside.
Ms Paraskevopoulu and her children were then buried together a short distance from the church in Artemida graveyard.Ms Paraskevopoulu and her children were then buried together a short distance from the church in Artemida graveyard.
Our correspondent says the children's father had requested privacy for this most emotional of funerals. Police ordered reporters to stay a respectful distance away and threatened to arrest anyone displaying a camera.Our correspondent says the children's father had requested privacy for this most emotional of funerals. Police ordered reporters to stay a respectful distance away and threatened to arrest anyone displaying a camera.
The view from the graveyard - where trees and olive groves once reached beyond the horizon - now resembles a nuclear wasteland, our correspondent says.The view from the graveyard - where trees and olive groves once reached beyond the horizon - now resembles a nuclear wasteland, our correspondent says.
Strong windsStrong winds
On Sunday, firefighters were still battling the fires, mainly in the Peloponnese area.On Sunday, firefighters were still battling the fires, mainly in the Peloponnese area.
"Today is a critical day because we have strong winds," local fire brigade spokeswoman Sofia Mendi was quoted as saying by Reuters."Today is a critical day because we have strong winds," local fire brigade spokeswoman Sofia Mendi was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"We are expecting some rains in the Peloponnese but we are not certain they will be intense enough to put out the fires," she said."We are expecting some rains in the Peloponnese but we are not certain they will be intense enough to put out the fires," she said.
The blazes - which authorities suspect were started by arsonists - have already ravaged some 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres), destroying more than 500 homes.The blazes - which authorities suspect were started by arsonists - have already ravaged some 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres), destroying more than 500 homes.
Last week a senior European Commission official said the EU could pay up to 600m euros (£410m) in fire aid to Greece this year.Last week a senior European Commission official said the EU could pay up to 600m euros (£410m) in fire aid to Greece this year.