Greece on high alert as 'exceptionally dangerous' Athens wildfire is out of control

Athens, Greece:A major wildfire raged out of control in the northern suburbs of Athens on Monday, triggering evacuations of several areas as swirling...

Athens, Greece: A major wildfire raged out of control in the northern suburbs of Athens on Monday, triggering evacuations of several areas as swirling winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes.

The massive, fast-moving blaze sent flames to heights of over 25 meters (80 feet) as Greece sought assistance from other countries, activating Europe's mutual civil protection mechanism.

The fire began Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Athens, burning several homes and businesses and sending a blanket of smoke and ash over the city center. Power cuts hit parts of the Greek capital and affected traffic lights at major central junctions.

Authorities said 15 people were injured, mostly due to smoke inhalation, as the blaze reached outlying sections of a suburb about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center. Greece’s National Observatory said late Monday that satellite images show the blaze has affected about 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres).