A car is burned on a road in southern Peloponnese peninsula, Greece, Aug. 24, 2007. The number of people who have died in two violent fires raging in the Peloponnese has risen to 37, after the discovery overnight of 20 more bodies, firefighters said. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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    ATHENS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Massive forest fires sweeping through the southern Peloponnese peninsula since Thursday have killed 37 people, Local media reported Saturday.

    In Lakonia and Messinia prefectures, a state of emergency has been declared as fires are raging uncontrollably and spreading to many fronts in the region. Strong winds blowing in the area make fire-fighting even more difficult and water-dousing aircraft harder to get close.

    After a meeting at the General Secretariat of Political Protection, Greek Interior Minister Spyros Flogaitis said a total of 179 fires are raging across the country.

    To extinguish the fires, the authorities have fielded 100 fire fighters with 35 fire engines, 30 trekkers, volunteers, as well as two fire-fighting aircraft and three helicopters.

    ERT Television reported that about 5,000 acres of forests have been burned to ashes.

    Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis is inspecting the fire-afflicted regions. Ruling New Democratic Party spokesman Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos expressed the government's grief over victims in the fires, and praised the firemen, pilots, volunteers and civilians for their help.