Wildfires in Greece have been partially contained and no longer threaten residential areas, a firefighters' spokesman said, even as a Saturday forecast of strong winds threatened to rekindle blazes in the south of the country, dpa reported.

Firefighters said 59 blazes broke out across the country on Friday in a matter of hours, fanned by strong winds and high temperatures. The largest of the fires scorched the areas east of Athens and in the southern part of the Peloponnesian peninsula.

France followed through with its promise on Friday to provide aircraft to help combat the fires, sending two fire-fighting planes and reconnaissance aircraft.

A 47-year-old man went missing while taking part in firefighting operations on Mount Hymettus in eastern Athens, police and Greek radio reported.