Firefighters were last night able to bring under partial control a wildfire that broke out near homes in Mandra, west of Athens, before any properties or lives were put at risk.

The fire began at about 4.30 p.m., prompting the arrival of some 100 firefighters and nine aircraft to help put out the blaze, which burned pine trees in the area. Fires also raged in the Peloponnese yesterday, with blazes reported in the areas of Messinia, Arcadia, Laconia and on the slopes of Mount Taygettus.

Fires continued to burn for a second day in Ioannina and Kastoria.

Meanwhile, the Environment and Public Works Ministry said it would issue loans, on favorable terms, to people whose homes were damaged in last week’s Mount Pendeli fire to help with repairs or reconstruction.