Greece Wildfires: Rescue continues as death toll rises above 80

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Europe

02:28

The death toll from wildfires that ripped through a Greek coastal town on Monday near Athens is now above 80. Rescue teams are focused on finding more bodies and many others who are unaccounted for. CGTN's Filio Kontrafouri reports from the town of Mati, in Greece.

For a third day, rescue teams continue their grim search street by street. Firefighters, along with the army and the police, are combing through burned out homes.

DIMOSTHENIS ANAGNOSTAKIS LIEUTENANT GENERAL, HELLENIC FIRE SERVICE "We enter every burned house, every house we suspect that there may be people, every house that we may have some information by someone for the specific address and look for people who were unlucky to be home during the fire."

An elderly woman who was found dead inside her home Wednesday was one of them. Those who managed to survive the wind-whipped fires like this shop owner know it's not just about rebuilding their businesses.

ELIAS VLAMIS SHOP OWNER "I couldn't find my employees, their phones were destroyed because they jumped in the water. The next day I found out one was OK. I couldn't find the other girl, we don't know if she is alive because a neighbor said she is dead. I cannot confirm that. She hasn't communicated with us. We are worried about her."

FILIO KONTRAFOURI MATI, GREECE "Hundreds of people were trapped here on Monday night as flames were chasing them through the streets of this small resort town. Families were separated during the chaos and the Greek fire brigade has been receiving dozens of calls reporting missing persons."

The Coast Guard is scouring the beaches and the sea. Many jumped in the water as they tried to flee. A website has been set up for relatives to post pictures of missing loved ones. There's been an outpouring of solidarity from volunteers across the country. The town hall overwhelmed with donations.

VOLUNTEER "We will stay for as many days as we have to, to support authorities, help find the missing and assist those affected by the fire."

About 25-hundred homes were destroyed in the fires. Some owners say they will start over but it will take a lot longer for them to rebuild the lives they once had here. Filio Kontrafouri, CGTN, Mati, Greece.