ATHENS (Reuters) -At least one person died and homes and farmlands were destroyed as wildfires stoked by gale-force winds broke out across Greece on Friday, from the southern outskirts of the capital Athens to regions near Ancient Olympia.

Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hot spot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.

Greek emergency services brought numerous fires under control over the weekend, but new outbreaks are likely due to a lasting drought and strong winds, civil protection officials said on Sunday. The region south-east of Athens was particularly hard-hit,