Sikorsky Aircranes scoop water out of the sea on August 24 to help suppress a fire burning near Athens, Greece. Photo: Valerie Gache

The fires that have burned into the suburbs of Athens are contained, according to the Environment News Service. Pushed by very strong winds, the fires burned thousands of hectares and destroyed about 150 homes. No deaths have been reported.

Some of the citizens have criticized the government for a slow response to the fires. A few photos and videos show residents fighting fire in their neighborhoods with buckets of water and tree branches, saying they had not seen a fire truck and they were on their own. Newspaper editorials and mayors of villages have complained about the way the fires were fought.

These were the worst fires since 2007 when 76 people were killed by fires in Greece, many of which were set by arsonists.