EPA Firefighters in Alexandroupolis
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 19:40
Firefighters in Greece are still battling multiple wildfires. The heat, drought and strong winds make it difficult for emergency services to get the fires under control.
The forest fire in the vicinity of the city of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece is currently the largest. According to Euro Commissioner Lenarcic of Crisis Management, it is even the largest forest fire that has ever raged in the European Union.
“With more than 73,000 hectares of burned area, Alexandroupolis is the largest recorded forest fire the EU has ever seen,” said Lenarcic on X, formerly Twitter. In the wooded area north of the port city, fire has been raging for six days. The power went out on Tuesday. A hospital was evacuated due to ash and smoke. Due to the severity of the fires, Greece is receiving extra help from EU countries.
The fires in the Alexandroupoli area have killed at least nineteen people. The victims, including two children, are believed to be migrants. They were found in the forest area north of the city, which is near the Turkish border, on a route that migrants use to reach Europe. At least 60 firefighters were injured, according to local authorities.
Burning at Athens
There are also forest fires in the Athens area. The Greek Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kikilias says these fires were lit.
It concerns the nature reserve around Mount Parnitha, 20 kilometers north of the Greek capital. Thousands of residents of Ano Liosia, a suburb northwest of Athens, were urged to leave.
Black clouds of smoke hang over much of the Greek capital. 200 firefighters and 15 firefighting aircraft from different countries were deployed.
2023-08-24 17:40:12
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