ATHENS (Reuters) - Firefighters on Wednesday contained a wildfire burning for nearly four days near Athens after it destroyed thousands of hectares of pine forest and dozens of homes.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Firefighters battled wildfires raging northeast of Athens for a third day on Tuesday as Greece asked for help from its European partners to prevent them from spreading.

Firefighters on Monday battled to contain a wildfire northeast of Athens as high winds caused the blaze to spread overnight after it damaged dozens of homes at a coastal village northeast of the Gr

Man's evolution didn't begin in Africa, as has been axiomatic until now. It apparently began in the Mediterranean Basin, an area that includes Israel.

A strong quake that hit northern Greece early on Saturday was also felt across Southern Bulgaria, local media outlets report.

A magnitude 5 earthquake hit the Greek coast 34 km (21 miles) south southwest of Kalamata on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At least four people died in widespread flash floods caused by heavy rains which lashed Greece overnight, the country's fire brigade said on Wednesday.

It is said to be the world's first weather station, to date back more than 2,000 years, and to have been used by merchants to tell the time - even in darkness.

Greece has declared a state of emergency on the Aegean island of Chios, which has been engulfed by a wildfire raging out of control, authorities said on Monday.