ATHENS, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - At least 50 people have been killed in the past three days as forest fires continue to range across Greece Sunday.
Earlier Greece announced that up to 40,000 hectares of forest had burned down in the country so far this summer. In the provinces of Attica in southern Greece and Boeotia in the east, more than a sixth of the woodland has been destroyed.
Forest fires are now approaching Ancient Olympia, the place where the Olympic Games originated. However, the local mayor said there was no imminent threat to the site.
"We are lucky. Currently, Ancient Olympia is not in danger," Giorgos Aidonis said.
The Greek fire department earlier said it had evacuated residents from villages located a few kilometers (miles) from Ancient Olympia.
The Greek authorities declared August 25 a nationwide state of emergency after the fire swept through the country.
