Fires and an earthquake in Greece

A series of fires in Greece have killed at least 63 people. According to reports, arson and negligence are to blame for fires on the Peloponnese peninsula, Evia Island north of Athens, and Kalyvia near Athens.

A

BBC article

describes how, "hot dry winds helped to spread the fires to the outskirts of Athens, shrouding the capital in smoke that obscured the sun." The BBC also provides a

map of the blazes

.

At least 11 countries are helping Greece fight the fires. A

Bloomberg.com article

states that the Olympia archeological site, where the first Olympics were held, narrowly escaped the flames.

Since these fires are so widespread and not yet under control, anyone who is planning on traveling to or within Greece should stay informed, as they could impact travel plans. For the latest, check

Google News

.

There are also early reports of a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Kefalonia, an island in the west of Greece. There's not a lot of information available yet, though this

Guardian Unlimited article

covers the basics.