Greece wildfires - latest: One third of forest land in Athens area wiped out as 40C heat sparks flare-up fears

Greece ’s wildfires have devoured a third of the total forest land in the northeast of Athens , a European Union satellite mapping agency said.

An area of more than 104 sq. kilometers (40 sq. miles) was burned in the Attica region where firefighters continue to battle scattered fires left from the blaze front that killed a woman and saw thousands evacuated.

The whole country is still under high fire alert as temperatures are expected to reach 40C causing more flare-ups. Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis came under fire for his handling of the disaster after harrowing pictures revealed the real trail of devastation .

Shocked residents woke up to the aftermath of three days of inferno that left torched buildings, dead woodland and destroyed homes.

The fire began on Sunday afternoon about 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of Athens burning several homes and businesses and sending a blanket of smoke and ash over the city centre.

The massive, fast-moving blaze sent flames to heights of over 80ft as Greece sought assistance from other countries, activating Europe’s mutual civil protection mechanism.