Devastating forest fires spread panic throughout Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece over the weekend as authorities announced a total of 56 deaths across the country by Sunday evening. Prime minister Costas Caramanlis requested EU aid and announced that Greece has been hit by an unprecedented tragedy.
Caramanlis told AFP that August 26 was declared a national mourning day.
Europe immediately reacted and planes were sent from France, Italy and Spain in the affected areas.
Fires continued to devastate forests in the Peloponnese, around capital Athens and in Olympia, the site of the first Olympic games, on Sunday.
Local authorities declared a state of emergency for the whole country and set three days of national mourning as a respect sign for the victims.
