Area around ancient Olympia destroyed as reward offered

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Athens - The area around the ancient archaeological site of Olympia has been largely destroyed in the wildfires that have been ravaging Greece as the government offered up to 1.4 million dollars in rewards for information leading to the arrest of suspected arsonists believed responsible for the fires.

Large parts of the parkland and forest around the Olympic museum and stadium were shown damaged on Greek television Monday.

The cypress trees and stone pines along the Alfeios river and around the stadium were also largely destroyed.

There was a ghostly silence around Olympia early Monday as ash covered the ground. "Also here we have an immense environmental catastrophe," reporters said.

The museum's artefacts were unaffected by the fires.

Also damaged was the Kronos Hill site above the sanctuary where the Olympic torch is lit up for the traditional torch relay ahead of the Olympic Games.

The death toll stood at 53 in the fires which started Friday, and seven people had already been arrested in connection with the infernos.

While officials have hinted at the possibility of arson, officials for the first time added the incentive of rewards ranging from 100,000 to 1 million euros (136,000 to 1.36 million dollars.)

The offer was made for evidence and information leading to the arrest of individuals or members of a criminal ring suspected of setting the fires, according to the Greek news agency ANA.

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declared the fires to be a "national catastrophe" and has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at official buildings.

Flames raged in several locations on Peloponnese peninsula.

In Sunday's efforts, 13 specially-equipped firefighting planes and helicopters from other European countries were in use, with further foreign assistance due to arrive by Monday.

France, Italy, Cyprus, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Romania, Norway and Slovenia were sending aid.

Dozens of villages in the western region of the peninsula and on the island of Euboea have been evacuated.