One dead as Greek firemen battle first major wildfires this summer

One person has died as Greek firemen battled the first major wildfires of this summer on Friday in Athens suburbs, the southern Peloponnese peninsula, and central Greece, according to the Fire Brigade.

One person has died of respiration problems in Peloponnese, local authorities said.

The 58-year-old man died after being transferred to the health center of Neapolis in the Lakonia prefecture in southern Greece, about 360 km south of Athens.

Shortly after the announcement, the health center was evacuated and patients were transferred to another nearby hospital as blazes were closing in.

Due to the raging wildfire which broke out in a mountainous area near electricity pillars, according to early information, three villages have been evacuated.

Strong winds blowing in the area are fanning the blazes towards inhabited zones after having first scorched farmland.

At least three houses have been burned, as dozens of firemen are struggling to put the fire under control with the assistance of water-dropping helicopters.

Meanwhile, dozens of firemen are also battling a wildfire in the eastern Athens suburbs Kareas, Vyronas and Ilioupoli amidst strong winds.

According to preliminary information, at least one house has been damaged, when flames neared houses, now evacuated, at the foot of Imittos mountain. A nearby monastery has also been evacuated.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire began in a bush next to the district's cemetery.

Another wildfire, which broke out earlier on Friday on the outskirts of Koropi, 40 km northeast of Athens, has been put under control.

The Fire Brigade also faced three wildfire fronts at the outskirts of the city of Chalkida, 80 km north of Athens.

Civil Protection Minister Yannis Panoussis has requested Italy and France provide water-dropping aircraft to assist Greece.

Each summer, Greece suffers from wildfires which are linked to scorching temperatures and arson in many cases.

In 2007, in the worst wildfires-linked tragedy in decades over 80 people died during major wildfires across Greece. Endit