Wildfire southeast of Athens threatens homes

In the southeast of Athens, a large wildfire threatened homes on Thursday, causing the pre-emptive evacuation of neighbourhoods and camps. Three suburbs, a hotel, a migrant camp and a children's summer camp were evacuated as a precaution by fire-fighters around the coastal town of Lavrio, some 60 km from Athens.

The evacuation came while 19 fire engines, two firefighting planes and four helicopters were working to extinguish the blaze. Police closed off major roads in the area and diverted traffic. The cause of the fire is not yet known.