Forest fires rage near Athens

Volunteers extinguish a bush fire in the suburb of Pedeli, north of Athens Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

The remains of a fire burns amid the devastation it has wreaked around the village of Marathon Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

Firemen and residents inspect damage after a blaze ripped through Dionissos, a suburb in the north of Athens Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Two men escort a woman who does not want to leave her burning house in Agios Stefanos Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

People watch a plane dropping water at Pedeli mountain in Dionissos Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Photo taken through an aircraft window over Athens shows the smoke of wildfires rising through the clouds Photograph: Aoife White/AP

Fire and smoke illuminate the sky behind the Acropolis Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

A volunteer battles against a raging blaze in the village of Kato Souli Photograph: John Kolesidis/Reuters

A fire burns on Mount Kitheronas, about 70 km, (45 miles) west of Athens Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP

A firefighter drags a hose up a hill in the suburb of Pedeli Photograph: Philip Ipparis/AFP/Getty Images

A fireman waits for help in the village of Kaletzi. Authorities have declared a state of emergency and have ordered residents to evacuate Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Houses threatened by the Kaletzi fire. The scenes evoked memories of the devastating fires of 2007, in which up to 70 people were killed Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

A firefighting helicopter flies over Kaletzi. Gale-force winds hampered efforts to stop the flames encroaching the outer suburbs of the Greek capital Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Locals run to escape a fire at the village of Grammatiko. Authorities have mobilised the army and called for help from neighbouring countries Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

A helicopter drops water over Grammatiko Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

An elderly woman stands in the middle of a street in Grammatiko Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

A plane drops water over the village of Varnava Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

A firefighter trains a hose on the flames outside the village of Marathon Photograph: Dimitri Messinis/AP

'What we are facing is a huge ordeal,' said the Greek prime minister, Kostas Karamanlis. 'A massive effort by authorities is taking place to deal with this very difficult challenge.' Photograph: Icon/Reuters

Scores of homes in well-heeled north-eastern Athens were also reported to have been gutted Photograph: Zuma/Rex Features

A resident on a water wagon at Mount Pedeli, east of Athens Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP

Citizens of Anthusa inspect the damage caused by the fire Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

Residents cover their faces as they flee the flames in Pedeli, north of Athens Photograph: Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

Smoke hovers above the north-east suburbs of Athens Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

The smouldering remnants of a house after a blaze in the suburb of Drafi Photograph: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The sun rises in the smoky sky over Athens Photograph: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA

Volunteers battle blazes in Pallini Photograph: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA