Hundreds of firefighters continued battling a major wildfire west of Athens on Monday, supported by helicopters and water-dropping aircraft.

Strong winds pushed the blaze towards mountain communities, destroying homes and farmland and forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate, including hundreds rescued by boat from nearby beaches.

More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the region, including more than 250 rescued by boats from beaches in the area.

Evacuation orders were issued in the early hours of Monday for three more areas, while crews worked to create firebreaks in a forest to help halt the advance of the blaze.