The death toll from two big wildfires raging on the outskirts of Athens, Greece, has risen to at least 79, making this fire season the deadliest in decades, a spokesman for the Greek government says. Authorities reportedly found 26 bodies believed to be groups of family members or friends huddled together on a seaside cliff, some of them hugging. Small children were among those 26 victims, according to Al Jazeera.
“Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced,” Nikos Economopoulos told Skai TV, as reported by Al Jazeera. Fire authorities said Tuesday that at least 156 adults and 16 children have been hospitalized with injuries. Many are in serious condition. “There was a great panic because the whole street was blocked by cars,” said Theodoros Christopoulos. “Shouting, hysteria, they could see the fire was coming with the wind. It already smelled a lot, the sky was black overhead and in no time at all the fire was here.” READ MORE
