ATHENS, Oct 29, 2007 (AFP) - Greece has collected some 150 million euros (216 million dollars) in donations to rebuild hundreds of homes destroyed in an August wildfire disaster, the head of its state recovery fund said Monday.

"We have collected 155.8 million euros from donations...(and) almost the entire sum will go towards reconstruction," the fund's chairman Petros Molyviatis, a former senior diplomat and foreign minister, told the Eleftheros Typos daily.

The state already has spent over 200 million euros to provide accommodation in fire-struck areas, mainly in the Peloponnese peninsula south of Athens and the island of Evia east of the capital, Molyviatis said.

"None of these people are on the street, either they receive a subsidy for rent or they are in temporary lodgings," the fund chairman said, adding that local residents would be given money to rebuild their homes.

Over 1,000 homes were destroyed in the Peloponnese and 500 were damaged in the 12-day inferno, which killed at least 67 people around the country.

Another 276 homes were destroyed or damaged on Evia.

Meanwhile, many Greeks have opened their wallets in the face of the disaster.

"Banks, companies and tens of thousands of private individuals have contributed sums between 10 euros and 12 million euros," Molyviatis said.

The influential Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) and the Union of Greek Shipowners have not sent donations, though respective members may have made personal contributions, he added.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 10/29/2007 15:29:58