?? Greece ravaged by deadly forest fires.

The situation is worsening around the Greek capital; at least 50 people have died in the fires that have been ravaging the area around Athens since Monday 23 July. Most of the victims were trapped in the Mati area, either in their homes or in their cars. A group of 26 people who died in the fires ravaging Greece were discovered on Tuesday morning in the courtyard of a villa in Mati, on the eastern coast of Attica, according to a Red Cross official. These deaths are in addition to the 24 already recorded since Monday evening, bringing the death toll from these fires to at least 50. There are also more than a hundred injured, 11 of whom are in a serious condition, according to a provisional tally. “Now is the time to fight the flames,” said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after chairing a crisis meeting, describing it as a “difficult night”. Athens has also activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request reinforcements from its partners, and Cyprus and Spain have already offered assistance, according to Yannis Kapakis. The United States is to provide the authorities with a drone, which will be deployed over Athens as early as Tuesday “to detect any suspicious activity”, the government spokesperson said. Photo: AFP/ANGELOS TZORTZINIS