Athens fire forces thousands to evacuate

FIRE burned through suburbs north of Athens early yesterday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in nighttime evacuations, fire service and local officials said.

Authorities announced they were evacuating the suburb of Agios Stefanos, 23km northeast of Athens, as flames closed in on the town centre. Low-flying planes were seen pouring water on burning houses.

“I call on all residents to follow the instructions of the police as to where they will go,” an emotional Agios Stefanos deputy mayor, Panayiotis Bitakos, told Skai TV.