Greek authorities have been working tirelessly to contain a massive wildfire that has been burning for 10 days in the northeastern part of the country, with no signs of abating. The fire, which has already destroyed vast tracts of forest, scorched homes, and triggered the evacuation of thousands of people, has been blamed for 20 of the 21 wildfire-related deaths in Greece last week. The fire department has deployed 474 firefighters, backed by 100 vehicles, seven planes, and two helicopters to battle the flames, with reinforcements from several European countries.
The fire, which has scorched more than 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) of land, making it one of the largest single fires ever to have struck a European country, is believed to have been sparked by a combination of hot, dry summer conditions and gale-force winds. The European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been monitoring the situation using satellite imagery to provide mapping data.
The fire has had a devastating impact on the local community, with thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes and many left without electricity or water. The area near the city of Alexandroupolis was particularly affected, with the bodies of 18 people found in a forested area. The remains are believed to be those of migrants who recently crossed the nearby border with Turkey.
Greece’s disaster victim identification unit has been activated to identify the remains, and a man who died last week in a separate fire in central Greece while trying to save his livestock from advancing flames has also been identified. The fire department has been working around the clock to contain the blaze, with firefighters from several European countries, including Germany, Sweden, Croatia, and Cyprus, providing support.
Mount Parnitha on the north-western fringes of Athens
In addition to the massive wildfire in the northeastern part of the country, another fire has been burning on Mount Parnitha on the north-western fringes of Athens, although the situation has improved somewhat. The fire department has deployed 260 firefighters, backed by 77 vehicles, one plane, and one helicopter to fight the blaze, which has burned homes and entered a national park.
The situation in Greece is particularly challenging due to the combination of hot, dry summer conditions and gale-force winds, which have whipped up flames and hampered firefighting efforts. The country has been plagued by daily outbreaks of dozens of fires over the past week, with 27 new fires breaking out in the 24 hours between Sunday evening and Monday evening.
Arson has been suspected in some of the blazes, with several people arrested by Friday. Greece has its own wildfire prevention regulations, typically in place from the start of May to the end of October, which limit activities such as the burning of dried vegetation and the use of outdoor barbecues. However, the current situation is a reminder of the devastating impact that wildfires can have on communities and the importance of taking precautions to prevent them.
With firefighting forces stretched to the limit, Greece has called for help from other European countries, and several countries have responded, sending aircraft and ground crews to support the efforts. The international community has come together to offer assistance to Greece in the face of this devastating natural disaster.
