1 month ago
Greek Wildfire Rages, Threatening Athens and Evacuations
A huge fire started in a part of Greece called Viotia on Friday.
It spread quickly into the area around Athens, the capital city, and even reached a beach town called Porto Germeno.
About 500 firefighters and 46 volunteers from France and Romania are trying to put it out, and 30 planes and helicopters are dropping water from the sky.
The fire burned a lot of land—about 10,000 hectares—and forced people to leave their homes and hotels.
Investigators think the fire began when sparks from a wind farm’s cables fell to the ground.
Two people who worked on the wind farm have been arrested.
The Greek Prime Minister said the country has been buying more equipment to fight fires, but sometimes the weather is too strong for anyone to control.
A massive wildfire began in Viotia on Friday and spread into Attica overnight, threatening Athens.
Around 500 firefighters, including 46 volunteers from France and Romania, are battling the blaze with 30 planes and helicopters attempting aerial water drops.
The fire scorched about 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) and forced evacuations of villages, hotels in Cephalonia, and communities near Porto Germeno.
Investigators attribute the fire’s origin to sparks from cables of a privately operated wind farm, leading to arrests of an electrical engineer and a contractor.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted increased civil protection investments but noted that extreme weather can surpass human planning.
- Who
- Greek firefighters, volunteers from France and Romania, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and fire department officials
- What
- A massive wildfire that began in Viotia and spread into Attica, threatening Athens and surrounding communities
- Where
- Viotia, Attica region, Athens, Porto Germeno, Cephalonia
- When
- Started Friday, spread Saturday, ongoing Sunday
- Why
- Investigators attribute the fire to sparks from cables of a privately operated wind farm
Key facts
- Fire Start Date
- Friday
- Area Burned
- 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres)
- Firefighters
- 500
- Volunteers
- 46
- Aircraft
- 30
- Arrested Individuals
- 2
- Prime Minister
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Quotes
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Prime Minister of Greece
“"In recent years, we have invested more than ever in strengthening civil protection, acquiring more aerial and ground assets, utilizing new technologies, hiring personnel and better organizing the state apparatus," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a Facebook post on Sunday.”
livemint.com
Sources
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