- Cautious optimism on fires in Greece
Devastating Fires North of Athens Keep Greece on Edge
In the morning, firefighters retrieved the body of a woman from a burned-out factory building, who couldn't escape the flames, according to Greek media. She is the sole fatality so far. Numerous houses have burned down, and countless animals have perished. Authorities have yet to give the all-clear, with evacuations still being called for, this time affecting a neighborhood in the coastal town of Nea Makri east of the capital.
Smoldering Hotspots Spark New Fires
However, the situation has significantly improved. A comparison of satellite images from NASA shows the difference from Monday to Tuesday: Initially, the fire front was around 30 kilometers long and up to ten kilometers wide in places, but by morning, only scattered fires remained. Nevertheless, firefighters report that new fires keep breaking out. There are still 17 aircraft and 18 helicopters, along with hundreds of firefighters, working to contain existing fires and extinguish new ones immediately.
The main threat comes from so-called hotspots, which smolder in the ground and can develop into new fires at any time. Additionally, winds that had subsided overnight are expected to pick up again. These strong winds were what fanned and drove a small fire into a massive fire front on Sunday, moving so quickly in some places that people could only flee, leaving their belongings behind.
One of Athens' Last Green Lungs Gone
Power outages are widespread, with hundreds of wooden power poles burned or toppled. Preliminary estimates suggest that an area of 100 square kilometers has been destroyed, including a forest that was considered one of the last "green lungs" of the metropolis of Athens.
In the capital, air quality has been severely affected by extreme smoke for the past two days, with more than 100 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter of air measured at times. The EU limit is 25 micrograms.
The entire fire area is now being monitored by both the firefighters and the police. International aid is also underway. After the government requested EU civil protection assistance, countries like Czech Republic, France, Italy, Serbia, Romania, and Turkey sent firefighting aircraft, helicopters, fire engines, and personnel.
Despite the improved situation, the firefighters are constantly battling new flares caused by smoldering hotspots. Their efforts are aided by 17 aircraft and 18 helicopters, deployed to contain existing fires and extinguish any new ones promptly.
