Fire breaks out near Athens as death toll hits 61

A fire broke out on the fringes of Athens today, burning down a slope of Mount Ymittos and bearing down on a suburb of the Greek capital as wildfires which have killed at least 61 people ravaged vast areas of the country.

Four planes, a helicopter and 15 trucks with 45 firefighters were scrambled to the blaze, which was burning through shrubs towards the suburb of Papagou, the fire department said.