On Saturday, hundreds of firefighters wrestled with wildfires whipped by gale-force winds across two Greek islands and various parts of the mainland. Authorities have issued warnings that numerous regions are at high risk for new blazes.
What They Are saying
More than 30 firefighters, supported by two aircraft and five helicopters, fought to control a wildfire raging on the island of Andros in the Aegean Sea. Although the fire was away from tourist areas, four communities were evacuated as a precaution.
“More firefighters are expected to arrive on the island later today,” a fire services official told Reuters, noting there have been no reports of damage or injuries.
While wildfires are a common occurrence in Greece, they have become more devastating in recent years due to increasingly hot and dry summers, which scientists attribute to climate change.
Last week, a wildfire near Athens forced dozens to flee their homes. Authorities suspect a combination of arson and scorching conditions.
Meteorologists are sounding the alarm: this is the first time Greece has faced “hot-dry-windy” conditions so early in the summer. “I can’t recall another year facing such conditions this early in June,” meteorologist Thodoris Giannaros told state TV.
Why It Matters
On Friday, a 55-year-old man died in the hospital after being injured in a blaze in Ilia, a region on the Peloponnese peninsula, where multiple fires are burning on Greece’s southern tip.
Since Friday, several hundred firefighters have been deployed to combat over 70 forest fires across the country. The fire service warns that high winds and scorching temperatures will continue to pose a threat through Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, firefighters managed to subdue a forest fire on the island of Salamina, in the Saronic Gulf west of Athens, and another fire about 30 kilometers east of the capital.
Bottom Line
After last year’s forest fires forced 19,000 people to flee Rhodes and killed 20 on the northern mainland, Greece has ramped up its preparations by hiring more staff and intensifying training efforts.
