Greek firefighting authorities have tripled the amount of firefighters sent to contain an 'exceptionally dangerous' fire with flames at times over 25-metres tall and raging just 44 kilometres north of the country's capital.
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00:00Roughly 670 firefighters, backed by more than 30 water-dropping planes, have been deployed
00:08to contain a raging wildfire burning through tinder-dry Greece, roughly 44 kilometers north
00:14of the capital.
00:16The fire erupted on Sunday and quickly traveled through Attica's pine tree forests, which
00:20cover a bone-dry landscape suffering from drought and heat waves.
00:25State Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kyklias said it was a particularly
00:30dangerous fire exacerbated by gale-force winds.
00:34In hours, it closed in on towns such as Marathon, with hospitals and other nearby residential
00:40areas evacuated.
00:42Authorities say the flames at times towered more than 25 meters tall.
00:48Half the country has been put on high alert for wildfires, with meteorologists and government
00:53officials warning the danger could last until Thursday.