GREECE: Northern Greece experienced wildfires on fifth consecutive day, forcing evacuations and causing numerous fires. Authorities reported fighting dozens of fires, with the most fires since records were kept. Civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias stated this summer’s heat waves were the most severe.
Locals in the northeastern Evros region were battling wildfires on foot or scooters, but they were met with larger ones erupting around them. Firemen battled the fires using trucks and water-scooping helicopter, but by Wednesday night, wildfires were still out of control on both main fronts in the north and near Athens.
Kikilias reported that rescue teams were putting out 355 new fires in the past five days, with 209 occurring the previous day, due to an unprecedented situation following heat waves and gale-force winds impeding their efforts.
Scientists predict that Greece, along with other nations in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, will experience hotter and drier conditions more quickly due to global warming, with the most dangerous areas being the north and near Athens, where fires spread to Parnitha National Park.
The European Union has sent seven aircraft, one helicopter, 114 firefighters, and 19 vehicles to Greece to aid in relief efforts due to climate change. The EU now maintains a standing army for emergencies, demonstrating the problem’s size beyond individual nations’ capabilities.
In the Evros region, 18 bodies were found, including two children. Authorities claimed that they were migrants killed by a fire.
Ash fell on waterfront taverns in Alexandroupolis, causing difficulty in breathing due to smoke. Locals battled fires with sticks and water while firefighters dispatched helicopters and aircraft. Authorities mandated the evacuation of Agia Paraskevi, a community north of Athens, and the surrounding area of Parnitha National Park. Migrant camp Amygdaleza was also evacuated out of caution.
Athens residents have reported home fires, highlighting the need for significant improvements in firefighting capabilities to prepare for the “extreme situation” exacerbated by climate change.
Kikilias stated Canada and Hawaii suffering from wildfires is also an example of global challenge. Greece’s hot, windy summers, combined with its natural pine trees and combustible undergrowth, make it ideal for wildfires to spread out of control.
In order to determine the origins of the fire in Evros, including the potential involvement of a criminal group of arsonists, the prosecutor for the Greek Supreme Court launched an investigation on Wednesday.
The court is investigating 13 migrants’ imprisonment by three men accused of starting fires and live-streaming their vigilantism, with one man claiming he made a valid citizen’s arrest.
Mount Parnitha, a national park in Athens, provides relief from heat waves and is vital for cooling the city. In 2007, a large portion of the mountain was destroyed by fires, causing air quality to decline. Residents of Kirki, near Evros, returned to find their homes devastated.
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