Greece has brought in the army to help extinguish fires raging out of control in eastern Attica – as it happened

Greece has brought in the army to help extinguish fires raging out of control in eastern Attica.

A fire brigade spokesman told the Guardian 88 soldiers had been seconded in the battle to contain blazes with firefighting efforts now focused on Nea Penteli and surrounding areas.

Penteli’s vice mayor Yannis Zounis said: “The fire has reached the central square of Pendeli and is near the yard of the old town hall.”

Not since 1998 had a forest fire been as bad, he added.

In affected areas residents could be seen with buckets and hoses trying to put out fires, while others fought back flames with olive branches.

The drama of the battle was captured by Manos Hatzakis, a volunteer firefighter, who interviewed by Mega TV at 4:45 PM local time, said: “Many houses have gone up in flames. It’s a big fire.”

Meanwhile, fire brigade spokesman Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said there had been 40 incidents of blazes reigniting since the “early morning hours.”

The flare-ups were reported across the entire area of Attica where fires had been reported. Residents in eastern Attica should be prepared to be evacuated, he said.

By mid-afternoon Greek police announced they had rescued 250 people from homes and other buildings deemed at risk. With growing numbers being evacuated the Greek Red Cross appealed for food and other materials to be gathered for the afflicted.

• Firefighters are battling to contain a massive blaze moving “like lightning” on the outskirts of Athens, with authorities evacuating people from towns, villages and hospitals as flames rip through trees, homes and cars.

• Propelled by gale-force winds, the wildfire had formed a 12-mile (20km) front by Monday despite “superhuman” efforts by forest commandos and volunteers overnight.

• Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection minister, Vassilis Kikilias, said firefighters were struggling in “dramatic conditions” that had been exacerbated by a prolonged drought.

• A spokesperson for the Greek fire service has said that “a total of 685 firefighters, supported by 27 forest commando teams, 190 vehicles, and volunteers, are operating with the assistance of all Civil Protection agencies.”

• Greece brought in the army to help extinguish the fires, with 88 soldiers seconded in the battle to contain blazes.

• Power cuts were reported in several parts of Athens.

• The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, cutting short his summer break on the island of Crete, returned to Athens to oversee the response.