Eighteen suspected migrants were found dead in a flame-ravaged forest in northeastern Greece on Tuesday, firefighters said.
• Also read: Fires in Greece: two dead, many evacuations
• Also read: Fires in Greece: Eight villages in north-east evacuated
The bodies were found in Dadia National Park near the border with Turkey, an entry point frequently used by migrants, fire department spokesman Yiannis Artopios said on television.
“The possibility that they are people who entered our country illegally is being examined,” as no resident has been reported missing, Mr Artopios continued, indicating that the victims were found north of the city of Alexandroupoli be.
The latest death toll from this new wave of fires has stood at 20 since the beginning of the week. A suspected migrant was found dead with an old shepherd north of Athens on Monday.
The flames continue to spread across north-eastern Greece and the islands of Euboea and Kythnos, as well as the Boeotia region (north of the capital), fanned by strong winds and temperatures approaching 41°.
“It’s a similar situation to July,” a fire department spokeswoman told AFP, citing a previous wave of fires that killed five people.
Firefighters have counted more than 60 fires in the past 24 hours. Six countries have sent aid through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
About 120 firefighters from Cyprus, Romania, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany and Serbia will contribute to the effort, fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told state television ERT.
A fresh fire broke out on land in the industrial area of Aspropyrgos in Athens’ western suburbs on Tuesday, blanketing the area in a foul-smelling black cloud. Residents in the area are being asked to stay home and parts of the roads are closed.