Athens wildfire dies down, but not all is over

Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis Agence France-Presse The fire that ravaged the suburbs of Athens “no longer has the intensity of the last few days, but there are still a few outbreaks that could cause the fires to flare up again,” a firefighter spokesperson explained.

Marina Rafenberg – Agence France-Presse in Athens

Published at 8:10 a.m.

• Europe

There is no longer an active front, only scattered outbreaks, but Greek firefighters remained mobilized on Wednesday in the fight against the forest fire that has been ravaging the suburbs of Athens since Sunday, killing a woman, causing significant damage and displacing thousands of people.

“The fire is no longer as intense as it was in recent days, but there are still a few outbreaks that could cause the fires to flare up again,” a firefighter spokesperson told AFP.

“Around 530 firefighters remain mobilised on the ground with 145 vehicles and we have received help from our European colleagues, but they have not yet been deployed on the ground in Attica,” he added.

Around 300 firefighters, as well as additional helicopters, fire engines and water tankers, have been sent to Greece from six countries (France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Turkey), including after Greece activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

Fueled by strong winds, Greece's worst forest fire of the year spread this week across parched territory and ravaged 10,000 hectares, destroying countless buildings and vehicles. About 100 houses suffered significant damage according to civil protection.

Also read

• More localities evacuated in Greece as wildfire spreads to Athens
• Less virulent flames in Greece

According to the website meteo.gr, 37% of Attica's forests have burned in the last eight years.

The fire started on Sunday afternoon near the historic town of Marathon, 40 kilometres northeast of Athens, which has a population of over 7,000 and is had to be evacuated.

Dozens of evacuation orders were sent to residents in the area. Several stadiums were opened to accommodate the displaced.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

On Tuesday morning, the body of a Moldovan woman in her sixties was found at her workplace in a burnt-out factory in Halandri, near Athens, according to authorities.

Faulty electricity pole

Investigators have combed the area where the fire started in the municipality of Varnavas and, according to the centre-right newspaper Kathimerini, the trail appears to lead to a faulty electricity pole.

In terms of financial aid, €4.7 million has been earmarked for the eight affected municipalities.

Households affected by the fire will receive €600 to cover their first needs, 6,000 euros to repair or replace their household appliances. Finally, 4,500 euros are provided for people who have suffered a disability as a result of an injury during the natural disaster.

A monthly allowance of 300 to 500 euros is also provided for people who have been forced to leave their homes and need to be temporarily rehoused.

But anger is brewing in the country, which is hit almost every summer by destructive fires and remains unprepared.

After an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “We are doing our best to improve every year, but conditions, unfortunately, are becoming more difficult. “

“Understaffed, with a lack of equipment and totally ineffective coordination, this is the Civil Protection that Mr. Mitsotakis is proud of, unlike all citizens who love their homeland,” reacted the leader of the left-wing opposition Syriza, Stefanos Kasselakis.

The president of the Socialist Party, Nikos Androulakis, also estimated that “many things must change immediately in the civil protection and forest protection plans, with a more active role of the forestry service and the use of seasonal firefighters in prevention itself. during the winter months.”

Visiting on Wednesday a military base where firefighter planes are positioned, the Prime Minister thanked the pilots for their dedication and “the great work done” in recent days.

“We have done what we can to have new planes as quickly as possible,” noted Mr. Mitsotakis, who recalled having ordered seven new Canadairs, which will not be delivered until 2027. “The solution will not just come from the air, essential work is needed in prevention,” he also admitted.

On Tuesday evening, in front of the parliament, about 200 people demonstrated to denounce the government's “crime.”

The risk of fire remained very high for Wednesday, especially in northern Greece, firefighters warned.

Greece is particularly vulnerable to forest fires after a very dry winter. June and July were the hottest months since statistics began to be collected in 1960.