In pictures: Athens suburbs fire

The northern suburbs of the Greek capital, Athens, have been hit by devastating forest fires.

Flames swept down from Penteli mountain towards residential areas below.

The flames, fanned by very high winds, raged out of control.

The enormous fire, which officials say may have been the work of arsonists, cast a pall of smoke over the entire area.

Residents were forced to pack up as many belongings as they could carry and flee.

Some did stay behind to try to save their homes.

Penteli Mayor Dimitris Stergiou joined in the effort to get hundreds of firefighters into position.

However, there have been complaints that help arrived too late - with the high winds preventing water-dropping planes from arriving on scene for nearly two hours.

A state of emergency has now been declared in the districts of Melisia, Vrilisia and Penteli.

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