- Greece Experiences Fire Triggered by Lightning Strike
A storm system affecting western and northern Greece has sparked 44 wildfires within the past day. Ten of these blazes are reportedly a result of lightning strikes, as per Civil Protection and Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias on the X platform. Authorities and experts are labeling the situation as severe, pointing the finger at climate change.
Drought intensifies fires
The climate shifts that have been encouraging the onset of wildfires from early spring to late autumn have become permanent, according to the news daily "Kathimerini". In periods of climatic upheaval, forest fires exhibit unique characteristics, as explained by fire weather expert Thodoris Giannaros to the newspaper. "Elevated temperatures and prolonged drought provide additional fuel for the inferno." This fuel leads to increased heat loads and faster fire advancement, making them more formidable to contain.
In addition, Minister Kikilias issued a warning on Twitter about potential lightning-triggered fires. Previously ignited fires have been contained. However, lightning frequently strikes in rugged, remote areas, rendering firefighting efforts exponentially challenging.
Metereological predictions indicate that these storms will persist in certain areas of the nation until at least Wednesday. The Civil Protection Ministry currently evaluates the fire risk as "extremely high" for approximately half of the country. Impacted regions encompass parts of the Peloponnese peninsula, the greater Athens region of Attica, and popular tourist hotspots including Crete and Chalkidiki.
The Commission has acknowledged the seriousness of the wildfire situation in Greece, issuing a statement expressing concern and support for the affected areas. Despite the efforts of authorities to contain previously ignited fires, the threat of lightning-triggered blazes in rugged, remote areas continues to pose a significant challenge.
