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Greek firefighters close to containing wildfire near Athens

Greek firefighters close to containing wildfire near Athens | iNFOnews.ca
A fire fighting helicopter flies amid smoke as the sun sets during a forest fire near Kapandriti north of Athens, Tuesday Aug. 15, 2017. Some 350 firefighters and soldiers assisted by water-dropping planes and dozens of fire trucks struggled to contain a large wildfire raging for three days through pine forests north of Athens, which left a smoky haze and ash drifting over much of the capital. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s fire department says it’s close to containing a wildfire that is burning north of Athens for a fourth day.

Army bulldozers are being used to set up firebreaks around the Kalamos area, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Athens, before an expected pickup in winds later Wednesday.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited fire-damaged areas by helicopter, while more than 300 firefighters remained deployed there, supported by five water-dropping planes and six helicopters.

No serious injuries have been reported since the fire broke out Sunday. The Fire Service hasn’t issued a damage estimate, but the blaze is believed to have gutted or damaged several dozen homes.

Wildfires also continued in the Peloponnese in southern Greece and on the western island of Zakynthos.

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