Offers for help and condolences pour in as fire ravages Attica

Cyprus, Israel, Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Poland and France have extended a helping hand to Greece as a fire that started on Monday in eastern Attica claimed 50 lives by Tuesday morning and injured more than 150 residents and visitors in the holiday resorts of Mati, Rafina, Neos Voutzas and Penteli.

"Israeli teams on are on alert and at the disposal of Greece if necessary," the country's embassy in Athens said in an announcement on Tuesday.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov spoke with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras by telephone and offered to send 50 firefighters and two fire engines, while Cyprus and Spain also sent equipment and personnel on Monday evening.

Planes, vehicles and firefighters have also been sent in by Greece's European Union partners.

Condolences also poured in as news of casualties started to break late on Monday, while...