Greek wildfires continue to spread

The fires have been burning for three days and have razed about 60 of forest and brush, damaged or destroyed scores of homes and forced thousands to flee outlying areas of the capital.

At least five people were being treated for burns and several dozen had reported breathing problems, but none of the injuries is serious.

At first light water-dropping planes and helicopters resumed operations near populated areas.

"There are some signs of optimism but no letting up of the firefighting effort.

"We have a chance to contain this nightmare that has burned the city's main forest area", Athens regional governor Yiannis Sgouros said.

"After this, we will assess the extent of this catastrophe - how many homes were destroyed, and how much damage was done."

Fires raged, meanwhile, at the coastal town of Nea Makri and nearby Marathon, site of one of ancient history's most famous battlegrounds, to the north-east of the capital, and at Vilia to the north-west.

At Nea Makri, a blaze swept down a hillside toward houses, and a dozen nuns were rescued from a nearby Christian Orthodox convent threatened by fire.

Volunteers, clutching branches and with water-soaked towels wrapped around their necks, beat back the flames as the evacuation took place.