UPDATE: Greece: Fire forces residents to flee region

UPDATES WITH TWO CONFIRMED DEAD

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS

Two people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in uncontrolled wildfires Monday in Greece.

Two major blazes on the east and west coasts of the country’s Attica region have forced hundreds of Greek residents to abandon their homes.

The coastal region on the western side of Attica, Kineta -- around 54 kilometers (34 miles) west of Athens -- was evacuated as fires broke out Monday afternoon in the forest in the Geraneia Mountains that surround the area.

Several homes were destroyed by the flames, forcing residents to leave their property behind, while others tried to save what they could using garden hoses.

A firefighting operation is underway with more than 160 firefighters and 68 engines striving to contain the flames, as the area is surrounded by pines.

The other big fire on the northeast side of Attica has forced local authorities to evacuate summer camps while hundreds more people have left their homes.

The thick smoke enveloping the sky above Attica is visible from many areas in the region.