Wildfires rage near Athens as Greece hit by second heatwave

Fires continued to burn on three fronts around Athens, gutting homes and farms, with strong gusts of wind advancing the flames over hilly terrain as temperatures approached 40C

Fires continued to burn on three fronts around Athens. Picture: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

New evacuations have been ordered as wildfires raged near the Greek capital after a second heatwave hit the Mediterranean country from the west following days of record-high temperatures that baked southern Europe.

In a round-the-clock battle to preserve forests, industrial facilities and holiday homes, evacuations continued for a third day along a motorway connecting Athens to the southern city of Corinth.