ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- The Greek government declared a state of emergency for the entire country on Saturday after forest fires killed at least 51 people as they swept across the south of the country.
"All regions of the country are declared in a state of emergency in order to mobilize all means and forces to face this disaster," Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said in an address to the nation.
"So many fire fronts in so many locations in the country can't be a coincidence," Karamanlis said. "The state will do its utmost to find the culprits and punish them.
Greek authorities and counter-terrorism squads are investigating whether arsonists started some of the forest fires.
The blazes have destroyed numerous homes and put a damper on political campaigning ahead of next month's national elections, authorities say.
Many firefighters have told CNN they are suspicious of the fire's source, given several witness reports that the blazes cropped up simultaneously along a 20-kilometer (12 mile) front of lush greenery in southern Greece.
Counter-terrorism squads have been sent to investigate and authorities are terming the fires a "criminal act."
In the past 24 hours, hundreds of firefighters, soldiers and planes loaded with water have been battling the blazes on a dozen different fronts, authorities said. Yet, despite their efforts, officials Saturday said the flames had not been tamed.
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