Greek firefighters were busy battling a series of wildfires outside the capital, Athens, on Monday, with the ferocious flames having raged for days amid scorching hot temperatures, forcing residents to flee their homes and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of children from a summer camp.

The blaze that broke out in the village of Kouvaras, about 27 kilometers southeast of Athens, spread fast amid erratic winds, a Greek fire service official said.

More than 200 firemen assisted by 20 soldiers, 68 fire engines, 10 aircraft and six helicopters were fighting the flames there.

Due to another wildfire burning close to the seaside resort of Loutraki, about 80 kilometers west of Athens, around 1,200 children in a summer camp and the residents of a rehabilitation center were evacuated, a local mayor told local television. 

About 135 firemen with 50 fire engines, 40 soldiers and 13 aircraft had been deployed to contain that blaze which forced police to shut down part of a highway and disrupted train services.

Since Sunday, a total of 81 wildfires have broken out across Greece, with the biggest fronts near Athens. The authorities said they were bracing for more fires on Tuesday due to soaring temperatures and strong winds.

"Tuesday will also be a very difficult day. There is a very high risk for fires," Artopoios said, adding that strong winds will persist.

Wildfires are common in Greece in summer, but a dry winter has created tinderbox conditions.

The Greek meteorological service has warned that the weather conditions remain challenging throughout Tuesday, with strong winds, a second heatwave and a high risk of fires expected this week.

(With input from Reuters)

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