INTENSE: The flames rage at Mount Parnitha on Thursday. Photo: NICOLAS ECONOMOU / Reuters / NTB
The fires in Greece were still not under control on Thursday. Another day of strong winds makes extinguishing work difficult. So far 20 people have lost their lives.
Published:
Less than 20 minutes ago
The fires are raging both at the Parnitha mountain range outside Athens and in the north-east of the country, where the fire front is now 15 kilometers long. North of Athens, firefighters are still fighting to keep the flames from reaching residential areas.
The country has struggled 355 fires since Friday, hundreds have fled the flames and 20 people have been found dead.
In the Menidi district at the foot of Parnitha, many have already lost their homes. Several express anger at the authorities because they have not managed to stop the fires, which they believe are arson. The same area was also hit by a major forest fire in 2021.
A monastery in Boeotia north of Athens was narrowly saved from the flames on Wednesday. It is 1,000 years old and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
People remove gas canisters from a monastery in the Athens suburb of Axarnes. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP / NTB
Northeast Greece has been burning since Saturday. Here, a few days ago, 18 dead people were found who are believed to have been migrants and asylum seekers who had crossed the border from Turkey.
The bodies were found at a barracks in a burned-down forest area. Two of the victims were boys aged 10–15.
Two more people have lost their lives in the latest round of fires. In addition, 60 firefighters have been injured during the extinguishing work.
Authorities have said this summer has been the worst since meteorological data began to be collected. In July, tens of thousands of tourists, including Norwegians, had to be evacuated when the fires ravaged Rhodes.
BURNT OUT: A helicopter flies near an unburnt house in the suburb of Acharnes on Mount Parnitha northwest of Athens. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP / NTBPublished:
Published: 24.08.23 at 15:23
Copy linkCopy linkShare on FacebookShare on FacebookShare by emailShare by email
2023-08-24 13:23:18
#Greece #struggling #control #forest #fires
