Greece races to tackle wildfires as winds set to resume






Greece races to tackle wildfires as winds set to resume

Greece races to tackle wildfires as winds set to resume

Hundreds of firefighters, supported by reinforcements from the European Union, are currently battling to contain the devastating wildfires on the Greek islands of Rhodes, Corfu, and Evia. With strong winds predicted for the day, local Greek fire crews are working tirelessly to extinguish the fires that have been raging across the country for the past two weeks. Additionally, a new fire broke out on Wednesday in central Greece, further adding to the challenge.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his sorrow and stated, “These are difficult and very sad days.” He mourned the loss of four fellow citizens, which included two aircraft pilots and two individuals who unfortunately did not manage to escape the inferno in time. While five bodies have been recovered from fire-stricken areas this week, it has been reported that a cattle farmer found burned on the island of Evia on Tuesday had gone missing before the fire and is not considered a wildfire casualty.

Greece is not the only country facing destructive fires. Throughout the Mediterranean region, wildfires have also ignited in Croatia, Italy, and Algeria. Extreme heat and dry conditions have resulted in the loss of 34 lives in Algeria and continue to pose a significant threat.

Since July 13, more than 600 wildfires have been reported in Greece. However, prompt action from authorities has ensured that the vast majority of these fires were quickly contained before becoming a major threat.

The civil protection ministry has issued a warning about the extreme danger of fire in over a dozen regions in Greece. On Wednesday, a forest fire broke out in the mountainous terrain near Haskovo, close to the Greek-Bulgarian border, and it remains uncontrolled. Another fire near residential areas in the Athens suburb of Kifissia broke out early Thursday but was swiftly extinguished.

As a precautionary measure, tens of thousands of residents and tourists, including 20,000 people on Rhodes, have been evacuated. The state of emergency has been declared on Rhodes due to the severity of the situation. Sadly, two pilots lost their lives on Tuesday when their water-bombing plane crashed while fighting a blaze in Evia. Furthermore, two individuals lost their lives in a dangerous fire near the industrial zone of Volos.

The industrial zone in Volos has been closed as a precaution, and six communities and villages around the city have been evacuated. However, some locals have chosen to stay behind to protect their homes and support the overwhelmed firefighting teams. Manolis Seitis, a 19-year-old student, shared, “We have a better knowledge of the local roads and surrounding area, so we can make a valuable contribution.” Nektaria Kabouri, a 33-year-old mathematician, added, “People from surrounding villages immediately came to help… these forests belong to all of us, and we want to protect them.”

Italy has also been dealing with devastating fires, resulting in the loss of three lives so far. Authorities are undertaking investigations into a potential fourth victim. In Sicily, the fires have caused over 60 million euros in damages. The Italian government has approved 10 million euros in compensation for affected tourists, specifically those whose trips to Sicily have been disrupted due to the heat wave fallout, including the closure of Catania airport.

The current situation in Greece and Italy emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change and prioritize environmental protection. Efforts must be made to prevent the escalation of wildfires and minimize the devastating impact on human lives, ecosystems, and economies.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2023-07-greece-tackle-wildfires-resume.html


 

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