Athens, Aug 24 (DPA) Firefighters battled raging wildfires approaching Athens for the third straight day Monday, burning houses and forests while forcing thousands to flee their entire towns.

Easing winds offered firefighters increased hope as water-dropping planes and helicopters resumed operations at first light, assisted by aircraft from Italy, France and Cyprus. More than 2,000 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers are fighting the fires on the ground.

Officials warned that the fires still threatened the heavily populated northern coastal towns of Nea Makri, Penteli, Dionysos and nearby Marathonas.

'There are fewer fronts but the blaze is still developing,' Fire Brigade Chief Giannis Kappakis said.

Three days of wildfires destroyed several homes and nearly 40,000 acres of forest and olive groves but there were no reports of deaths. At least half a dozen people were being treated for minor burns and breathing problems, the Health Ministry said Monday.

In the area of Nea Makri, firefighters battled throughout the night to contain fires that ripped through hillsides and forced the evacuation of a dozen nuns from a nearby Christian Orthodox monastery.

Over the past few days evacuations of entire towns were ordered with residents seen fleeing in cars, by motorcycle or on foot, including the more than 10,000 inhabitants of Aghios Stefanos after flames drew dangerously close to the main square.