Two die as fire races through southern Greece

ATHENS, Aug 24 (Reuters) At least two people died and thousands of acres of forest were consumed in a blaze racing through Greece's southern Peloponnese today, causing one small town to be evacuated, officials said.

''The two victims were outside a hotel near the town of Areopolis. We do not know who they are, whether they are tourists or not,'' a fire brigade official told Reuters.

Greece has seen some of the worst fires of the past decade this summer, caused by record-high temperatures, drought and arsonists.

A third person was feared missing, another firefighter, Nikos Diamantis, told state television.

''The two people killed were there even though the hotel had been evacuated,'' Diamantis said. ''There are fires inside the town as we speak.'' The blaze started early today north of Areopolis and spread quickly, fanned by strong winds, forcing local officials to start evacuating the town.

The fire brigade deployed five fire trucks, two aircraft and a helicopter to battle the flames.

Dozens of other fires broke out today across the country as winds picked up after a three-day heatwave that saw temperatures rise to 41 degrees Celcius.

In late June, the biggest national park near Athens, on Mount Parnitha, burned for three days leaving more than a third of the nature reserve charred.

REUTERS PD VV1733