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Greece wildfires: scores dead as holiday resort devastated Greece wildfires: scores dead as holiday resort devastated
(35 minutes later)
At least 74 people have been killed, scores injured and more than 700 survivors rescued from the sea after a devastating wildfire swept through a small resort town near Athens, authorities in Greece have said. At least 74 people have been killed and scores injured and more than 700 survivors have been rescued from the sea after a wildfire swept through a small resort town near Athens.
Huge flames trapped families with children as they tried to flee from Mati, 18 miles (29km) east of the Greek capital, where the blaze hit on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning a Red Cross official said 26 people had died as they huddled tightly together close to the beach. Huge flames trapped families with children as they tried to flee from Mati, 18 miles (29km) east of the Greek capital, on Monday afternoon. Among the dead were 26 people found huddled tightly together close to the beach, a Red Cross official said on Tuesday morning.
It was by far the country’s worst fire since blazes raged across the southern Peloponnese peninsula in August 2007, killing dozens.It was by far the country’s worst fire since blazes raged across the southern Peloponnese peninsula in August 2007, killing dozens.
Whether you live in the area, are visiting or work as a firefighter, police officer or emergency services worker we’d like to hear from you.Whether you live in the area, are visiting or work as a firefighter, police officer or emergency services worker we’d like to hear from you.
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“Greece is going through an unspeakable tragedy,” the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, said as he appeared on television to declare three days of national mourning.“Greece is going through an unspeakable tragedy,” the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, said as he appeared on television to declare three days of national mourning.
Greece has invoked EU civil protection agreements to seek help. A military transport plane with 60 firefighters onboard flew out of Cyprus, while two water-dropping planes left Spain at dawn on Tuesday. Turkey, Israel and Italy have also offered to send planes and helicopters. Greece has invoked EU civil protection agreements to seek help. A military transport plane with 60 firefighters onboard flew out of Cyprus, and two water-dropping planes left Spain at dawn on Tuesday. Turkey, Israel and Italy offered to send planes and helicopters.
One civil protection agency official described the situation as “a national tragedy”.One civil protection agency official described the situation as “a national tragedy”.
The 26 who died on the beach “had tried to find an escape route but didn’t make it in time,” Nikos Economopoulos, the head of Greece’s Red Cross, told the country’s Skai TV. Other witnesses said they had also seen several bodies in the area. The 26 who died on the beach “had tried to find an escape route but didn’t make it in time,” Nikos Economopoulos, the head of Greece’s Red Cross, told the country’s Skai TV. Other witnesses said they had seen several bodies in the area.
A fire brigade spokesman said that at least 74 people had been killed, but the death toll is expected to rise as rescue crews search through the charred remains of houses. A fire brigade spokesman said at least 74 people had died. The toll was expected to rise as rescue crews search through the charred remains of houses.
The government said at least 172 people were hurt, including 16 children, with 11 adults in a serious condition. The government said at least 172 people were hurt, including 16 children, and 11 adults were in a serious condition.
The Greek coastguard said the bodies of four people were retrieved from the sea off Mati. In total, the coastguard and other vessels rescued 696 people who had fled to beaches. Boats pulled another 19 people from the sea. The Greek coastguard said the bodies of four people were retrieved from the sea off Mati. The coastguard and other vessels rescued 696 people who had fled to beaches. Boats pulled another 19 people alive from the sea.
“Mati doesn’t even exist as a settlement anymore,” one woman told Skai TV. “I saw corpses, burnt-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive.” “Mati doesn’t even exist as a settlement any more,” one woman told Skai TV. “I saw corpses, burnt-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive.”
Many hours after the blaze broke out, the strong smell of charred buildings and trees lingered in the air. White smoke rose from smouldering fires.Many hours after the blaze broke out, the strong smell of charred buildings and trees lingered in the air. White smoke rose from smouldering fires.
Mati is in the Rafina region, which is popular with local tourists, particularly older people and children at holiday camps.Mati is in the Rafina region, which is popular with local tourists, particularly older people and children at holiday camps.
“I personally saw at least 100 homes in flames,” said Evangelos Bournous, the mayor of the Rafina-Pikermi area. “I saw it with my eyes – it is a total catastrophe.” “I personally saw at least 100 homes in flames,” said Evangelos Bournous, the mayor of the Rafina-Pikermi area. “I saw it with my eyes, it is a total catastrophe.”
Nine coastal patrol boats, two military vessels and dozens of private boats assisted by army helicopters were mobilised to help those stuck in Rafina harbour. Police said they found two Danish tourists in a boat off the Rafina coast. Another eight people from the group were still missing. Nine coastal patrol boats, two military vessels and dozens of private boats were mobilised to help people stuck in Rafina harbour. Police said they found two Danish tourists in a boat off the Rafina coast. Another eight people from the group were missing.
Yannis Stratikopoulos of the civil protection agency said efforts to fight the blazes would continue until they were brought under control. “Every branch of every force has been mobilised: the fire brigade, the army, the coastguard,” he said. “All are working in emergency coordination and we will continue for as long as it takes.” Nikos Stavrinidis said he lost two friends in the waters off Rafina port, after the group he was with sprinted into the sea when they saw the flames approaching. “It happened very fast. The fire was in the distance, then sparks from the fire reached us. Then the fire was all around us,” he told AP. “The wind was indescribable, it was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this before in my life.”
Stratikopoulos said it was too early to speculate on what had caused the fires, but rejected suggestions that the emergency response had been badly coordinated. Yannis Stratikopoulos, of the civil protection agency, said efforts to fight the blazes would continue until they were brought under control. “Every branch of every force has been mobilised – the fire brigade, the army, the coastguard,” he said. “All are working in emergency coordination and we will continue for as long as it takes.”
On Monday, Greek authorities had urged residents of a coastal region west of Athens to abandon their homes as another wildfire burned ferociously, closing one of Greece’s busiest motorways, halting train links and sending plumes of smoke over the capital. Stratikopoulos said it was too early to speculate on what had caused the fires, but he rejected suggestions that the emergency response had been badly coordinated.
On Monday, Greek authorities urged residents of a coastal region west of Athens to abandon their homes as another wildfire burned ferociously, closing one of Greece’s busiest motorways, halting train links and sending plumes of smoke over the capital.
Authorities deployed firefighters and equipment from across Greece to deal with the blaze at Kineta, a small resort town about 35 miles west of the capital on a route used daily by tens of thousands of drivers to reach the Peloponnese peninsula.Authorities deployed firefighters and equipment from across Greece to deal with the blaze at Kineta, a small resort town about 35 miles west of the capital on a route used daily by tens of thousands of drivers to reach the Peloponnese peninsula.
A senior fire chief went on state TV to appeal to people to leave the area after some tried to remain at their properties. “People should leave, close up their homes and just leave. People cannot tolerate so much smoke for so many hours,” Achilleas Tzouvaras said. “This is an extreme situation.”A senior fire chief went on state TV to appeal to people to leave the area after some tried to remain at their properties. “People should leave, close up their homes and just leave. People cannot tolerate so much smoke for so many hours,” Achilleas Tzouvaras said. “This is an extreme situation.”
Strong winds fanned towering walls of flames stretching as wide as four miles near Kineta, local officials said. Dozens of homes were thought to have been damaged or destroyed by the blaze. Some householders used hosepipes to try to put out the fires while police assisted with the evacuation of some areas. Strong winds fanned towering walls of flames stretching as wide as four miles near Kineta, local officials said. Dozens of homes are thought to have been damaged or destroyed by the blaze. Some householders used hosepipes to try to put out the fires while police assisted with the evacuation of some areas.
Nikos Stavrinidis said he lost two friends in the waters off Rafina port, after the group he was with sprinted into the sea when they saw the flames approaching. “It happened very fast. The fire was in the distance, then sparks from the fire reached us. Then the fire was all around us,” he told AP. “The wind was indescribable – it was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this before in my life.” There was criticism of the rescue operation on Tuesday as locals in and around Mati claimed officials had misjudged the ferocity of the fires and focused on the blazes around Kineta when another much greater inferno was raging in the eastern resort area.
Criticism of the rescue operation was mounting on Tuesday, as locals in and around Mati claimed officials had misjudged the ferocity of the fires and focused on the blazes around Kineta when another much greater inferno was raging in the eastern resort area.
One resident, identified as Christina, told Thema 104.6 radio that authorities had been badly organised. “There was no plan. Not a drop of water was thrown on the flames here because they were only concentrated on western Attica. That is why people burned. No one was informed by anyone,” said the woman.One resident, identified as Christina, told Thema 104.6 radio that authorities had been badly organised. “There was no plan. Not a drop of water was thrown on the flames here because they were only concentrated on western Attica. That is why people burned. No one was informed by anyone,” said the woman.
Almost 50 brush and forest fires broke out across Greece on Monday and early Tuesday, with most of them quickly extinguished, the fire department said. Ten were still burning late on Tuesday morning, including blazes in Corinth, Crete and in central and northern Greece. Almost 50 brush and forest fires broke out across Greece on Monday and early Tuesday, most of which were quickly extinguished, the fire department said. Ten were still burning late on Tuesday morning, including blazes in Corinth, Crete and in central and northern Greece.
Areas around Athens were like a tinderbox, emergency workers said, after a dry winter and a summer heatwave in which temperatures have risen above 40C. However, heavy rain was forecast across southern Greece on Wednesday. Areas around Athens were like a tinderbox, emergency workers said, after a dry winter and a summer heatwave in which temperatures have risen above 40C. Heavy rain is forecast across southern Greece on Wednesday.
GreeceGreece
WildfiresWildfires
EuropeEurope
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
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