ATHENS , Greece ( CNN ) -- Fires in southern Greece that have razed dozens of villages and killed at least 44 people may have been deliberately set ahead of next month 's national elections , the prime minister suggested Saturday . A fire burns in the Mesohoria area on Evia Island , northeast of Athens . Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declared a nationwide state of emergency Saturday night . He also turned to European Union allies , which have promised help . Emergency crews pulled charred bodies from homes and local media reported death tolls of up to 50 people . Scores are hospitalized with severe burns and respiratory problems , state-run television reported . Although the fires were concentrated in the southern Peloponnese region , heavy smoke billowing Saturday afternoon above Mount Hymettus , southeast of Athens , signaled a new fire . It was burning close to Athens International Airport , forcing officials to close a highway . In a nationally televised address , Karamanlis suggested the blazes might have been set by political extremists , disrupting political campaigning . `` So many fires sparked simultaneously in so many places is no coincidence , '' Karamanlis said , and vowed to punish those responsible . Many firefighters 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 . The prime minister described the situation as a `` battle that has to be won , '' and ordered all resources mobilized to fight the fires . He also announced that a fund has been set up for fire victims and their families , and an assessment of the disaster will be made . The most devastated area stretches for 80 kilometers ( 50 miles ) from the western towns of the Zaharo , within the highlands of the western Peloponnese , to the southern tip of the peninsula , Mani . In the past 24 hours , hundreds of firefighters , soldiers , and planes loaded with water have been battling the infernos on a dozen fronts , authorities said . Yet , despite their efforts , officials said the flames had not been tamed . `` Our emergency services are overstretched and it is humanly impossible to battle this force of nature , '' a top fire official told CNN . An EU statement said 30 member countries had offered assistance . France on Saturday was slated to send two planes to help quell the fires , and Norway and Germany pledged to send aircraft as well . A sweltering heat wave in Greece has parched forests and scrubland . With intense winds fanning the flames , authorities call this the country 's worst fire season on record . Since June , more than 3,000 fires have razed thousands of hectares of forests and scrubland across the country -- nearly triple last year 's total -- according to officials . A mother , her child and at least seven other people died fleeing burning woods in the mountainous villages in western Peloponnese , near the town of Zaharo , according to a fire department official . Farther south , six people -- including two French tourists found by rescue crews in an embrace -- were killed in a forest fire that swept near their hotel in the town of Areopolis , located 190 kilometers ( 120 miles ) southwest of Athens . Greece 's elections are set for September 16 . The ruling party has called for a temporary suspension of political campaigning as a sign of respect to those who died in the flames , and flags on government buildings were flying Saturday at half staff . E-mail to a friend . Journalist Anthee Carassava contributed to this report .
NEW : Greek government declares a state of emergency for the entire country . NEW : Death toll revised to 44 for fires sweeping southern Greece . Comment: