Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hot spot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.

A wildfire killed at least one person and burned houses and farmland in a town outside Athens on Friday as Greek firefighters struggled to contain a series of blazes at the start of what is forecast to be several days of gale-force winds.

Greek emergency services brought numerous fires under control over the weekend, but new outbreaks are likely due to a lasting drought and strong winds, civil protection officials said on Sunday. The region south-east of Athens was particularly hard-hit,