Greece burns: Fire brigade fights against devastating forest fires!

Greece burns: Fire brigade fights against devastating forest fires!

The risk of forest fire in Greece remains high because the Greek fire departments were able to control several fires last weekend. The region was particularly affected southeast of Athens, where species-rich forest and bush areas as well as agricultural land were affected. According to the vienna.at, almost 1,600 hectares were destroyed, which in particular brings the local population and agriculture.

The continued drought and strong winds tighten the location and increase the risk of new fires, especially in Athens and on the island of Euböa. Dramatic scenes took place when numerous localities had to be evacuated as a precaution. Around 400 people could be saved from dangerous situations, but fatal incidents occurred - a man lost his life when his remote house was enclosed by flames. In addition, dozens of houses were destroyed, and many animals also died through the fires.

causes and investigations

The authorities have started to check the causes of the fire. Arson is suspected in a village near Athens because a gas bottle and a suspicious person were found on a motorcycle nearby. It was also found that a defective power cable in the southeast of Athens had triggered a fire, which led to preliminary arrests by two technicians of the state 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 of areas represent the primary causes. Statistics show that between 1982 and 1998 around 8.75 million hectares burned down forest area, the worst season in 2007 almost 270,000 hectares. The devastating fire in Mati in 2018, in which over 100 people lost their lives, is also remembered.

effects on the population and the environment

The effects of the forest fires are far -reaching. The destruction of vegetation and living spaces leads to a threat to the local flora and fauna, while at the same time economic damage in the tourism sector and agriculture occur. In a winter sports area on Crete, 1,500 people had to be brought to safety due to repeated fires; The fire brigade describes the situation there as "extremely difficult".

In the past, there have been numerous other fires that repeatedly show the dangers that emerge from 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 against the fact that climate change could increase the frequency of such natural disasters, which makes further prevention measures essential.