Death toll from Greek wildfires rises to 85

By Mehmet Hatipoglu

ATHENS

The death toll from Greek wildfires near the country's capital Athens increased to 85 on Thursday.

Greek Health Ministry said a 73-year-old injured man from Mati area in eastern Attica, who was receiving treatment in a hospital in Athens succumbed to his injuries.

Later, two more corpses were reportedly found at Mati area, bringing the death toll to 85.

According to local media, 60 injured people, including 11 those in critical condition, continue receiving treatment in six different hospitals in Attica region.

More than 100 people are thought to be missing and the search and rescue operations are ongoing.

On the other hand, Dimitris Stergiou, Mayor of Penteli, said the fire started after electric wires broke off in Daou mountain in Penteli area.

Stergiou said he immediately went to the mountain when the fire started and he has seen the broken electric wires.

"I believe that the fire started from there," he added.

Stergiou said the fire exploded like an "atomic bomb" and they guessed that the flames will direct to Dionysos area.

However, when the flames changed direction because of the wind, it was not possible to be controlled, he added.

On Monday, fires broke out on the east and west coasts of Greece's Attica region, home to the capital Athens, killing 85 people and injuring more than 170.

The fires have forced thousands of locals to flee to safer areas.

* Fatih Hafiz Mehmet contributed to this report from Ankara.