Fears that death toll will be much higher than 60

The residents of Eastern Attica are experiencing a continuing tragedy as the death toll from the catastrophic wildfires is constantly rising.

Sixty bodies have already been found in Mati and Neo Voutza. There are fears, however, that the tragic death toll will in the end be much higher, as there are many homes and hotels that have not yet been inspected by the Fire Service.

While 50 deaths were confirmed at first, ten more bodies were found in Neo Voutza and in the seaside region of Artemida.

There are reports of 70 missing persons, while the Fire Service has received at least 35 phone calls from people seeking to find their relatives or friends.

At daybreak in Mati, 26 bodies were discovered. The dead, which included children, were found in the field not far from the Argyra Akti (silver coast).

Authorities believe that many of these people, many of whom were found in an embrace with another victim, attempted in vain to reach the sea, but were trapped by the flames. They apparently walked as far as they could until the end of the field, which ended in a cliff above the sea.

The images at Mati are reminiscent of the 2007 wildfire tragedy in Ilia, in the Peloponnese.

There were burnt cars on the road leading to the beach, abandoned by their owners, in an attempt to escape the flames that had encircled the area.

The wildfire was reportedly moving at a speed of 70 kilometres per hour.

The mayor of Rafina, Vangelis Bournous, has expressed fears that the final death toll will be far above the current count of 60, and perhaps over 100.

Such fears were fueled by the fact that hundreds of homes burned down in Mati.

It would not be much of an exaggeration to say that Mati has essentially been wiped off the map.