Greece on Saturday requested EU help to battle wildfires that have sprung up in different regions as a lengthy heatwave sent temperatures soaring above 45C and gusts fuelled flames.
Winds were fanning fearsome blazes near Athens and other parts, including the Peloponnese peninsula that juts out west from the capital, and on the islands of Crete, Euboea and Kythera, fire brigade spokesman Vathrakogiannis said.
