New blaze threatens Athens as death toll from fires reaches 40

Forest fires that have taken at least 40 lives raged uncontrolled across vast areas of southern Greece on Saturday, the fire department said, and a new blaze threatened buildings on the fringes of Athens. Authorities closed off a major highway on Mount Ymittos near Athens as flames approached the capital's eastern outskirts, the fire department said.

Since Friday morning, more than 170 blazes have raged from the western Ionian islands to Ioannina in northwest Greece, and down to the south. New fires broke out Saturday, and fears grew that the death toll could rise. (AP)