News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

At least 74 people have been killed - many of them in a single village - and more than 170 injured in huge wildfires in Greece amid a sweltering heatwave.

Rescuers described a tragic scene in Mati as 26 charred bodies were found tightly huddled in a field including families with children found locked in a final embrace as they tried to flee the flames.

A survivor said the village "doesn't even exist anymore" after she managed to flee, passing victims' corpses on the floor during her "lucky" escape.

One of the youngest victims was thought to be a six-month-old baby who died of smoke inhalation as the forest fires were fuelled by dry conditions and strong winds.

Poland said two of its citizens, a mother and her son, were among the victims.

It was not clear how many people remained unaccounted for as boats combed beaches for any remaining survivors, with military hospitals on full alert, a Greek government spokesman said.

Are you in an area affected by the wildfires? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Ten tourists drowned when a boat capsized while trying to rescue them from flames, the Daily Mail reports.

Greece has declared three days of national mourning to pay tribute to the victims.

It has issued a desperate appeal for help from the EU and other allies, saying it needed air and land assets as the Attica region was engulfed in some of the worst fires in more than a decade.

Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the Rafina-Pikermi area, which is home to about 20,000 people, told Skai TV: "The number of dead is rising. It has already exceeded 60."

He predicted the death toll would rise above 80.

Officials said at least 172 were injured - 156 adults and 16 children - as fires raged uncontrolled, destroying homes, forcing motorways and rail lines to close, and trapping many victims, including families with kids, as they tried to flee.

(Image: AFP)

Relatives of those unaccounted for or feared dead posted desperate appeals on social media, and an online database for missing persons was set up. Appeals were also posted online for missing pets.

An investigation has been ordered into the cause of the fires, which spewed huge clouds of smoke visible from space.

The UK's Foreign Office has urged Brits affected by the fires to contact the British Embassy in Athens.

Terrified people scrambled to smoke-covered beaches or ran into the sea to escape the infernos, with about 700 rescued by a flotilla of government and civilian boats - but others weren't so lucky.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

(Image: REUTERS)

The fire in Mati village, about 18 miles east of Athens, was by far the country's worst since flames devastated the southern Peloponnese peninsula in August 2007, killing at least 26.

Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece's Red Cross, told Skai TV: "I was briefed by a rescuer that he saw the shocking picture of 26 people tightly huddled in a field some 30 metres from the beach.

"They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn't make it in time."

A local woman added: "Mati doesn't even exist as a settlement anymore. I saw corpses, burned-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive."

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Google Earth)

The coastguard said the bodies of three women, a man and a child were retrieved from the sea after they tried to flee the fires in Mati, in the Rafina region which is a popular spot for Greek holidaymakers, especially pensioners and children at camps.

The bodies of ten victims - including five children- were reportedly found in Neo Vujza.

Fires were raging in a densely-populated area to the east of Athens, and to the west. Smoke drifted over the Parthenon in Athens.

There were apocalyptic and incredibly grim scenes in fire-ravaged areas - homes were reduced to piles of rubble, roads were littered with the shells of burnt-out cars that were abandoned during the evacuation, and bodies were found in groups on the floor, in cars or razed houses.

(Image: AFP) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Beaches that are normally teeming with tourists were ravaged, with pictures showing burnt sun loungers and parasols just a few feet from the water.

Survivors were huddled together on smoke-covered beaches or waded into the water while they waited to be rescued by coastguard and private boats operated by locals who answered the call for help.

"We went into the sea because the flames were chasing us all the way to the water," Kostas Laganos, a survivor, said.

"It burned our backs and we dove into the water."

More than 700 people who had fled to beaches were rescued. Boats plucked another 19 people from the sea.

The army was drafted in to help fight the blazes following simultaneous outbreaks east and west of Attica.

(Image: AFP)

A senior fire chief went on state TV on Monday to appeal to people to leave the area after some tried to stay in their properties.

Some parts of Mati were still smouldering with white smoke early on Tuesday.

West of Athens, Greek authorities had urged residents of a coastal region to abandon their homes as a wildfire burned ferociously, closing one of Greece's busiest motorways, halting train links and sending plumes of smoke over the capital.

Authorities deployed more than 200 firefighters and 60 engines from across Greece to deal with the massive blaze at Kineta, a small resort town about 54 km (35 miles) west of Athens on a route tens of thousands of drivers use daily to reach the Peloponnese.

Some householders took up hosepipes to douse the fires while police assisted with the evacuation of some areas.

(Image: Xinhua / Barcroft Media)

In Athens, some flights, mainly landings, were disrupted on Monday afternoon by low visibility and diverted elsewhere, air traffic controllers said.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras cut short a visit to Bosnia because of the crisis, which has stretched Greece's firefighting abilities to full capacity.

He told reporters on Tuesday: "We are dealing with something completely asymmetric."

"Greece is going through an unspeakable tragedy," he added.

Greece asked the US to provide surveillance drones to look for potential arsonists or suspicious activity after officials determined 15 fires started almost simultaneously.

Cyprus and Spain were among the first to offer assistance after Greece said it needed help from its EU partners.

(Image: SWNS.com)

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pledged full support from the bloc, writing on Twitter: "I just spoke to the President of the Hellenic Republic P. Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister @tsipras_eu.

"I am deeply saddened for the loss of so many lives in this horrible tragedy. The @EU_Commission will spare no effort to help Greece and the Greek people."

Authorities had launched a search for ten Danish tourists who had fled the Rafina area on an inflatable boat, then called a Danish emergency number for assistance after they ran into trouble.

All ten have now been accounted for, Danish media reported.

Wildfires are not uncommon in Greece, but a relatively dry winter created tinderbox conditions.

It was not immediately clear what ignited the fires.

(Image: REUTERS)

Greeks have launched a campaign to collect supplies, including clothes, food, drinking water and medicine, and funds for the fire survivors.

Amid the firefighter and disaster relief efforts, Greek officials put out an urgent appeal for blood donations.

Britain's Red Cross teams are on standby in case additional aid is required by their counterparts in Greece.

Ben Webster, head of emergencies at the British Red Cross, said: “Getting people to safety is the absolute priority in a disaster like this.

"Red Cross teams are on the ground now, treating the injured and working alongside the emergency services as part of search and rescue efforts.

"The British Red Cross stands ready to support, however we might be needed, as the situation evolves and the number of people affected becomes clearer."

Is it safe to travel to Greece?

The tragedy has prompted concerns about British holidaymakers in Greece, and questions about whether it is safe to go ahead with planned trips.

The Foreign Office has offered advice to tourists, writing on its website: "There have been wildfires in a number of areas in southern Greece, including close to Athens.

"They have been confined to limited areas, but within those the impact has been high, with significant loss of life.

"Most visits to Greece, including to Athens, are unaffected.

"You should keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of the Greek authorities in affected areas.

"If you’ve been affected by the wildfires and need consular assistance, you can call the British Embassy in Athens on +30 210 7272 600; if you’re in the UK and worried about a British national in Greece, call the FCO on 020 7008 1500."

Abta, which represents British tour operators and travel agents, said: “The wildfires in Greece are northeast of Athens in the Penteli area and 50km (31 miles) west of Athens.

“This area isn’t a main destination for UK tourists.

"People on holiday in the region are advised to monitor news reports and follow any advice or instructions issued by the local authorities, their travel company or their accommodation providers.

“Anyone due to travel imminently to the areas affected should speak to their travel company or accommodation provider.

“ABTA is in contact with the authorities in Greece and we are monitoring the situation.”