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Greek firemen put Peloponnese fires under control

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ATHENS, September 3 (RIA Novosti) - Greek firefighters have put out or isolated three remaining wildfires burning on the Peloponnese Peninsula, in southern Greece, the country's fire service said Monday.

Two large fires in the Arcadia region have been extinguished, and nine firefighting planes and two helicopters, including two Russian airplanes, brought the Mount Parnon blaze under control.

A cold snap and a drop in the wind contributed to putting out some of the fires, but rains that fell across the country did not reach the most affected regions in the south while causing severe flooding in the north. Ecologists cite soil erosion caused by the last year's fires as a possible reason for the disaster.

The official death toll of the wildfires rose to 64 after a man died of burns Sunday, but according to the country's Health Ministry, the number of victims has reached 65.

Mourning ceremonies were held Sunday across the country. In the village of Artemida, in southwestern Greece, about 200 villagers attended the funeral of a woman found dead still clutching her child.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, criticized for his poor handling of the disaster, suggested that arsonists may have been responsible, and pledged to find and punish them.

According to the country's Greenpeace department, the country's deadliest fires ever have burned about 260 hectares of forests.

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