Severe wildfires raging in northeastern Greece have caused the deaths of several thousand sheep and goats, farmers said on Monday as they called on the government for help.

“We are devastated; we have already counted more than 4,000 burnt goats and sheep, and many more animals are still missing,’’ Kostas Dounakis, president of the cattle breeders’ association of Alexandroupolis, said.

At least 50 stables were also burnt, he said, as well as warehouses containing fodder.

Hundreds of firefighters continue battling fires raging along the Greek-Turkish border that began 10 days ago.

The Dadia National Park is covered by dense forest and is impassable, so firefighting efforts are confined to the air, said a spokesman for the Cypriot firefighters involved in the operation.

On behalf of farmers, Mr Dounak has called for rapid financial aid from the government, especially as pastures had also been burnt and the animals had nothing to eat.

He also warned about the coming winter, saying the size of the burnt areas meant there would probably be severe flooding as soon as there were heavy rains. 

(dpa/NAN)