Greek firefighters on Wednesday struggled to contain uncontrolled fires throughout the country for a fifth day, several of them bordering an acrid, smoke-filled Athens.
In the last two days, 19 people believed to be migrants -- including two children -- have been killed in forest blazes.
Hundreds of firefighters were battling on two major fronts, one near Athens and the other in northeastern Greece, in addition to several other smaller fires.
One fire fanned by strong winds ripped through the foothills of Mount Parnitha, the largest forest adjoining the capital, burning near the outskirts of a national park.
"The situation in Parnitha is extremely critical," Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias told a news conference.
The European Commission said 246 firefighters, 40 vehicles and eight aircraft from eight member states had been sent to help.
Evacuations were ordered on Wednesday morning for several settlements on the outskirts of the capital, including three nursing homes.
The blaze damaged homes in the northwestern Athens district of Menidi, and briefly threatened an army camp.
"Many people don't want to leave their homes," Nikos Kountromichalis, a Hellenic Red Cross organiser, told state TV ERT in Menidi.
- 'Fainted in their yards' -
"We found some elderly people who had fainted in their own yards," he said, adding that his team had treated several residents for burns and respiratory problems.
Fires have already destroyed homes and properties in the nearby suburbs of Hasia and Fyli.
A migrant detention centre in Amygdaleza, north of Athens, was also evacuated.
Another fire in Boeotia, north of Athens, came perilously close to a UNESCO-listed Byzantine monastery.
Greek firefighters have battled over 350 fires over the last five days, including over 200 in the last 48 hours, Kikilias said.
Nearly a hundred were currently unchecked, the fire service said.
Fire department spokesman Yiannis Artopios said 140 people had been arrested on suspicion of arson, most of it accidental.
Most cases were related to welding and agricultural work that ignored high-risk weather warnings.
"It's an unprecedented situation, this is not a figure of speech," he said.
Kikilias said the country was going through the worst summer of fires since fire-risk maps were introduced in 2009.
He noted that the number of fire emergency warnings issued this year were "twice as many as in 2021, four times those of 2019 and seven times those of 2012".
In 32 years of service "I've never seen such extreme conditions," Greek fire department chief Yiorgos Pournaras told reporters, noting that even during the night winds remained high.
The Parnitha fire had spread even though water bombers were on-site in minutes, Pournaras said.
- Athens district evacuated -
The Greek capital woke up Wednesday to the smell of scorched earth and thick black smoke covering the sky.
"Unfortunately, the wind does not help at all," Stathis Topalidis, deputy mayor of Menidi, told state TV ERT.
On Tuesday, authorities ordered the evacuation of Ano Liosia in northwest Athens -- a district of over 25,000 people -- although several stayed at their houses to try and protect their properties.
Flames continued to spread unchecked for a fifth day in the northeastern region of Evros, close to the Turkish border in Alexandroupolis and the Dadia forest,
and home to rare birds of prey.
More evacuations were ordered in the region overnight.
- Online rumours -
Unfounded rumours and allegations have also been spreading rapidly on social media blaming migrants for responsibility for the outbreak of the fires.
Greece's Supreme Court Prosecutor on Wednesday ordered local officials to investigate both the causes of the catastrophic fire and alleged claims of racism towards migrants.
Greek authorities on Tuesday arrested three people in northern Greece who had forced undocumented migrants into a cargo trailer, accusing them of being responsible for the fires.
Twenty people have been killed in this week's wildfire wave.
Eighteen people including two children were found dead Tuesday in a forest fire near the Turkish border, north of Alexandroupolis.
As no local residents had been reported missing "the possibility that they are people who entered our country illegally is under investigation", fire department spokesman Yiannis Artopios said in a televised address.
Another person believed to be a migrant was found dead in a nearby forest on Monday. An elderly shepherd had been found earlier Monday in central Greece.
Over 40,000 hectares (nearly 99,000 acres) were destroyed in wildfires in just three days from August 19 to 21, according to a report by the National Observatory of Athens.
The very hot and dry conditions which increase the fire risk will persist until Friday, according to meteorologists.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst: 9/10This article highlights the critical situation in Greece as firefighters battle multiple wildfires, with 19 people having been killed. The European Commission has responded to the call for help by sending 246 firefighters, 40 vehicles, and eight aircraft from eight member states to assist in the effort. The article further mentions the evacuations of several settlements on the outskirts of Athens, including three nursing homes and a migrant detention center. This articles content is a reminder of the devastating wildfires that have plagued Greece in the past 25 years, most notably the 2007 wildfires that destroyed over 500,000 acres of land and resulted in the deaths of over 67 people.
Stock Market Analyst: 6/10This article does not have as direct implications on the stock market as it does on the defense industry, however, investors should be mindful of the potential long-term economic impact of the wildfires. Greeces tourism and agricultural industries could be severely impacted should the fires continue to rage out of control, thereby causing a decrease in GDP and a decrease in investor confidence in the country.
General Industry Analyst: 8/10 This article provides a helpful overview of the current wildfire crisis in Greece, and the efforts made by the European Commission to assist in the effort. It reminds us of the devastating wildfires of 2007 and the severe impact they had on the countrys economy, agriculture, and tourism industries. Analysts should be cognizant of the long-term implications of the current crisis, and the potential to cause a decrease in GDP and investor confidence in the country.
Analyst Summary
: This article provides an overview of the current wildfire crisis in Greece, and the efforts made by the European Commission to assist in the effort. Greek firefighters have been struggling to contain multiple blazes for the past five days, with 19 people believed to be migrants having been killed. The European Commission has sent 246 firefighters, 40 vehicles, and eight aircraft from eight member states to help with the effort, as well as evacuating several settlements on the outskirts of Athens, including three nursing homes and a migrant detention center. This articles content reminds us of the devastating wildfires that have plagued Greece in the past 25 years, most notably the 2007 wildfires that destroyed over 500,000 acres of land and resulted in the deaths of over 67 people. Investors should be mindful of the potential long-term economic impact of the wildfires, as Greeces tourism and agricultural industries could be severely impacted should the fires continue to rage out of control. Analysts should be cognizant of the long-term implications of the current crisis, and the potential to cause a decrease in GDP and investor confidence in the country.Investigative
Question:
- 1. What impact has the current wildfire crisis had on the tourism and agricultural industries in Greece?
- 2. What measures have been taken by the European Commission to assist with the efforts to contain the fires?
- 3.
How has the Greek government responded to the crisis and what measures have been taken to protect citizens?4. What role has the Greek military played in the effort to contain the fires?
5. What strategies can be implemented to mitigate the impact of future wildfires?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
