A Greek electricity workers’ union has flipped the switch on the country’s health ministry building in Athens in protest at unpaid state bills.

Officials and residents struggled to assess damage from a massive forest fire that began to subside tonight after burning houses, cars and animals, and forcing the evacuation of two medical clinics near Athens.

Much of south-eastern Europe baked in record hot temperatures today and electricity resources were being stretched to cover heightened demand during the summer’s first major heat wave.