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Greek Fires Spreading Rapidly

By admin ⋅ August 27, 2007 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ 136 views

Fires first broke out on Friday, August 24th on the southern Peloponnese peninsula, spreading rapidly across the area, with strong winds hampering rescue efforts. The Greek government has declared a nationwide state of emergency. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said: “All regions of the country are declared in a state of emergency in order to mobilise all means and forces to face this disaster.” More than 60 people have lost their lives in the fires. The fires could affect the general elections slated for September 16th.

Firefighting aircraft from France, Italy and Canada have joined Greek soldiers and firemen battling the towering flames which have left thousands homeless and threatened some of antiquity’s most famous sites. A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch the arsonists suspected of igniting the fires. Dozens of new fires continue to break out, fanned by hot, dry winds.

Andreas Kais, a Greek fire chief, said that fires were spreading across the Peloponnese’s rugged terrain that fire engines cannot access because of hills and ravines. “Greece has 17 fire-fighting planes and 13 helicopters, the largest such special force in southern Europe,” he said, adding that help arriving from other countries would “double our force. But to be honest, even if we had 500 planes and 50,000 specially trained firefighters, we would not be able to prevent this disaster because of the very unfavourable conditions prevailing.”

It is estimated that since Friday, 170 fires have spread across the country, with many people caught unawares by the rapid spread of the blazes. Large parts of the country are still at high risk as gale force winds are expected to continue to sweep Greece over the weekend.

In Olympia, villagers from houses which stood between the flames and the fire complained that efforts were being directed to protect ancient monuments at the expense of their homes. “It’s hell everywhere,” said Costas Ladas, a resident who said the fire covered more than a mile in three minutes.

Below you will find a picture taken from the satellite of the part of the country affected by fires.