Greece wildfires: At least 74 killed, PM Tsipras declares three-day mourning

Most of the deceased were either trapped inside their homes or vehicles as strong winds helped the fire to spread, thus aggravating the situation. The number of injured persons have breached the 500 mark.

According to reports, a search for survivors has been initiated by the government.

Reports also quoted Greece's Red Cross as saying that 26 more bodies of adults and children were found atop a cliff. The deceased were embracing each other at the time of their death.

"They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn't make it in time. Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced," Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece's Red Cross told media.

Speaking about the magnitude of the catastrophe, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, said: " Fifteen fires had started simultaneously on three different fronts in Athens."

Meanwhile, following the incident, a high level meeting was chaired by Tsipras to decide on the course of action.

"Extraordinary meeting on the development and confrontation of fires, the care of those affected and the taking of measures to guard the houses in the affected areas, at the Megaron Maximos," his tweet in Greek said. 

The wildfire is the worst to hit Greece in a decade.

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