Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said the country had to "mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster".
Officials say 46 people have died in the past two days and many others are thought to be trapped, as scores of blazes swept the Peloponnese region. [...]
Almost 200 fires have been reported - there were about 70 new blazes during Saturday, while many others continued to burn from the previous day.
Strong winds have blown smoke and ash towards Athens 330km (206 miles) away, starting more fires and blocking out the sun over the capital. [...]
Fire crews said they had found at least 30 bodies in villages near Zaharo as they searched burned out cars and houses.
"It's a tragedy," an eyewitness told Greek television. "I can see the burnt bodies of a mother holding her child in her arms. Further away there are more bodies. It's terrible."
Fire officials confirmed that a mother and her four children had perished, as had three firefighters.
It is believed at least some of the fires may have been started deliberately.
A hot dry summer has left Greece exceptionally vulnerable to forest fires. Other European countries are sending firefighting equipment to help. This is a scary disaster.
