Firefighters tackle blaze on Mount Hymettos near Athens

A firefighter pours water through a hose as during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

ATHENS (Reuters) - A large fire fanned by strong winds that spread quickly over the slopes of Mount Hymettos near Athens was subsiding by early Monday, authorities said.

Some 141 firefighters aided by five firefighting aircraft and five helicopters fought the blaze that started after midnight in the city's eastern suburb of Paiania, the fire brigade said.

"We faced a big front with flames that shot up to 20 metres (65 ft) and reached the mountaintop. It is in recession now but we still have a lot of work to do," Civil Protection General Secretary Nikos Hardalias told Skai TV.

A firefighter arranges a hose outside a burned down house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Authorities have warned of the high risk of wildfires across large parts of Greece due to soaring temperatures and strong winds.

In the last 24 hours Greece's fire brigade had been called to put out 60 wildfires across the country, including a blaze in Elafonissos, an island south of the Peloponnese, which forced the evacuation of campers.

Smoke rises inside a burned house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; editing by Darren Schuettler)

A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

A firefighter pours water through a hose inside a burned house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

A firefighter walks at the yard of a burned house during a wildfire on Mount Hymettus, near Athens, Greece, August 12, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas