At least 5 people were rescued by a ferry as it was approaching port Rafina, northeast of Athens (Piraeus).
The captain of the ferry revealed that the group of Athenians had jumped into the sea in order to save themselves from the forest fire devastating the sea-side resorts of Mati and Rafina.
Image: Port of Piraeus (Athens, Greece)
Hellenic Navy boats were ordered to approach the fire-stricken regions to extract people trapped on the beaches.
Two major forest fires raged on either side of the Greek capital on Monday, July 23, leaving at least 3 people dead, burning houses, injuring dozens and sending people fleeing into the sea, where coast guard vessels battled winds to evacuate them.