Watch again: Smoke rises from intensifying wildfires north of Athens

Wildfires burn in forests north of Athens for a second day after intensifying overnight. Much of Greece has been baking in near 40C conditions as a heatwave grips Europe, with temperatures in the country forecast to climb further later this week and into the weekend. With evacuation orders issued for at least six seaside communities affected by two wildfires near Athens yesterday, the Greek army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers have been working to free retirees from their homes, rescue horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames. Elsewhere in Europe, Italy is bracing for its highest-ever temperature as Sardinia and Sicily have been forecast to reach 48C. As many as 20 red warning alerts have been issued today out of 27 cities in Italy as the nation bears another day of the unrelenting heatwave. Meanwhile, a 90-year-old man died in Cyprus from heatstroke last weekend, while six other elderly people have been hospitalised, according to health authorities. Click here to subscribe to The Independent: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: https://www.youtube.com/c/theindependent/videos Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.theindy.com Click here to get the best of The Independent daily: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Like The Independent on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/TheIndependentOnline Follow The Independent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Independent Follow The Independent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.independent Download the iOS & Android app: https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/app Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donations Subscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content & live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB