Thousands of people have been evacuated in Greece as wildfires continue to burn for a fifth day. The fires, which are believed to have been caused by a faulty power line from a wind farm, have destroyed homes, pine forests, olive groves, and farmland near Athens.
Firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft and reinforcements from Romania and France, are battling the flames. However, strong winds have made it harder to contain the fires, with some areas experiencing persistent flare-ups. Deputy fire brigade spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios told Greek public broadcaster ERT that the lack of aircraft for 30 continuous hours caused significant difficulties.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the seaside resort of Porto Germeno and other areas west of the capital, including over 250 rescued by boats from beaches in the area. Three firefighters have died tackling separate fires in Greece, with two dying in a helicopter crash on Sunday near the seaside community of Psatha.
The wildfires have burned over 60 hectares of land across four fires in Greece, with thousands of people also being evacuated from the Greek island of Crete. The fires have threatened villages and tourist resorts, with fast-moving flames destroying lush forests and causing extensive damage to olive trees.
The Greek government has arrested two contractors on charges of negligent arson in connection with the fires. The country is experiencing a summer of record-breaking heatwaves and little rain, conditions that scientists say climate change has exacerbated.
The wildfires have also had a devastating impact on local residents, with one woman, Anastasia Hatzoglou, describing the destruction of her stone-built home and olive trees as ‘an awful feeling.’ She told Reuters that it was ‘so much effort’ to build and care for her property, and that the damage was ‘not great.’
The Greek authorities are working to contain the fires, with heavy machinery being used to carve fire breaks and prevent the wildfires from reaching homes. However, the situation remains challenging, with strong and erratic winds continuing to pose a significant threat.
