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Greece is burning: firefighters are fighting devastating forest fires!
Greek fire brigades are fighting against high fire danger in Athens: drought, evacuations and investigations into the causes.
Greece is burning: firefighters are fighting devastating forest fires!
The risk of forest fires in Greece remains high as Greek fire departments were able to bring several fires under control last weekend. The region southeast of Athens was particularly affected, where species-rich forest and bush areas as well as agricultural land were affected. According to information from vienna.at, almost 1,600 hectares of land were destroyed, which is particularly distressing to the local population and agriculture.
The ongoing drought and strong winds are aggravating the situation and increasing the risk of new fires, particularly in Athens and on the island of Euboea. Dramatic scenes unfolded when numerous towns had to be evacuated as a precaution. Around 400 people were rescued from dangerous situations, but there were fatal incidents - one man lost his life when his remote home was engulfed in flames. In addition, dozens of houses were destroyed and many animals also died in the fires.
Causes and investigations
Authorities have begun investigating the causes of the fires. Arson is suspected in a town near Athens because a gas bottle and a suspicious person on a motorcycle were found nearby. It was also discovered that a faulty power cable had caused a fire in southeast Athens, leading to the preliminary arrests of two technicians from the state-owned distribution network operator (HEDNO).
According to du-bist-grieche.de, the Mediterranean climate with its high temperatures and strong winds is a constant risk factor for forest fires in Greece. Human factors such as arson, negligence and illegal burning are the primary causes. Statistics show that between 1982 and 1998, approximately 8.75 million hectares of forestland burned, with the worst season in 2007 affecting almost 270,000 hectares. The devastating fire in Mati in 2018, in which over 100 people lost their lives, is also remembered by many.
Impact on population and environment
The effects of the forest fires are far-reaching. The destruction of vegetation and habitats poses a threat to local flora and fauna, while at the same time causing economic damage to the tourism sector and agriculture. In a winter sports area on Crete, 1,500 people had to be brought to safety due to repeated fires; The fire department describes the situation there as “extremely difficult”.
There have been numerous other fires in the past, which continue to highlight the dangers posed by the combination of human activity and extreme weather conditions. The annual average of burned areas of 50,318 hectares shows that protection against forest fires is essential. Scientists warn that climate change could increase the frequency of such natural disasters, making further prevention measures essential.