Greek firefighters battle relentless blazes across the country
2 Min Read
The scale of this crisis is staggering, with over 350 fires ravaging the land in the span of just five days, more than 200 of which hit the country in the past 48 hours.
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Flames burn a forest during a wildfire in Avantas village, near Alexandroupolis town, in the northeastern Evros region, Greece, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. (AP)
Greek firefighters are grappling with uncontrolled fires across the country for the fifth consecutive day, with some fires encroaching upon Athens.
Over the past two days, forest fires have claimed the lives of nineteen people suspected to be migrants, including two children.
A blaze, exacerbated by strong winds, has swept through the foothills of Mount Parnitha, a major forest near Athens, damaging homes and prompting evacuations.
The fires have been relentless, with over 350 fires in the last five days, more than 200 of which occurred in the last 48 hours. The extreme conditions have tested the capabilities of firefighters, and authorities have evacuated various areas to ensure residents' safety.
Unfortunately, false rumors have circulated on social media, wrongly blaming migrants for starting the fires. The Greek Supreme Court Prosecutor has initiated an investigation into the fires' causes and claims of racism toward migrants.
VIDEO: Wildfire inferno rages near Athens as Greece orders residents to evacuate pic.twitter.com/3K31tyFoHY
— CeylonTribune (@TribuneCeylon) August 23, 2023
The fires have also caused widespread destruction, consuming over 40,000 hectares in a span of three days. Meteorologists predict that the high temperatures and dry conditions conducive to fire will persist until Friday.
It is worth noting that wildfires have also ravaged many countries across almost all continents, most notably in Canada, the US, Greece, and Algeria. Temperature records were set in different regions across the world, leaving behind a trail of wildfires and floods from the North down to the South.
Scientists asserted that global warming, linked to fossil fuel dependence, contributes to the multiplication and intensification of heat waves.
