Thousands of residents in Ano Liosia, an outer district of Athens, Greece, were forced to evacuate on Tuesday as wildfires continue to ravage the country. The death toll from the fires has reached 20, prompting civil protection to issue evacuation orders in the affected areas.
Over the past 24 hours, more than 60 fires have erupted, fuelled by gale-force winds and temperatures soaring up to 41 degrees Celsius. The extreme weather conditions have made it difficult for firefighters to contain and extinguish the fires.
Fire department spokesman, Yiannis Artopios, described the situation as unprecedented, with fires growing rapidly in size. The flames have spread to the lower slopes of Mount Parnitha, the largest forest bordering Athens, which has been plagued by wildfires in the past.
Additionally, a major blaze at a landfill in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, has engulfed the area in a noxious black cloud.
Several European countries have offered assistance through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to aid in extinguishing the wildfires. Despite this, over 40,000 hectares have already been destroyed between August 19 and 21.
Suspected Migrants Found Dead
In a tragic turn of events, eighteen suspected migrants, including two children, were discovered dead in a forest fire near the Turkish border. The possibility that they had entered Greece illegally is being investigated as the area is frequently used as an entry point for irregular migrants.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her deep sorrow and called for urgent action to prevent such devastation from becoming the norm.
Hospital Evacuation
Fires continue to spread uncontrollably in northeastern Greece, as well as the islands of Evia and Kythnos, Boeotia, the Peloponnese, and western Greece. The hospital of Alexandroupolis, located in an area ravaged by fires, had to be evacuated, with 65 patients being moved to a waiting ferry in the city harbor.
Meanwhile, the fire near Alexandroupolis also poses a threat to the Dadia national park, known for its rare birds of prey. The industrial town of Nea Artaki on the island of Evia was also evacuated due to the fire’s damage to poultry and pork farms.
Weather Outlook
Meteorologists predict that the hot and dry conditions contributing to the fire risk will persist until Friday. The scorching heatwave has already caused widespread destruction, with a fire on Rhodes island burning over 17,770 hectares in just 10 days, resulting in the evacuation of approximately 20,000 people, mostly tourists.
The Greek government is working closely with international partners to tackle the ongoing crisis, as the country grapples with the unprecedented scale of wildfires ravaging its lands. Immediate and effective measures are needed to protect lives, homes, and the natural environment from further devastation.