A herd of horses ran through a cloud of thick smoke to escape an advancing fire near Kandili, northwest of Athens. The video, shot on site on Monday 3 August by the crew of the Greek broadcaster Skai TV, shows the animals galloping in an open field with the flames behind them, a short distance away. According to local media present at the scene, all the horses escaped without injuries.
An extended fire front
The fire is part of a front that has been engaging firefighters in western Attica for four days, fueled by strong winds, extreme heat and dry vegetation. Estimates reported Monday evening speak of at least 12,600 hectares burned, mostly woodland, with damage to dozens of homes but no residents injured.
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The price paid by the rescuers
The firefighting operation has already paid a high price, as two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air near Psatha on Sunday 2 August, causing the death of a Greek crew member and a Danish pilot. The two people on board the second aircraft, a Greek and a British citizen, survived with minor injuries. The Greek police have opened an investigation into the causes of the accident.
