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| Greek fires: Your stories | Greek fires: Your stories |
| (2 days later) | |
| A firefighter in Agios Stefanos. Photo: Chris Koutsos | A firefighter in Agios Stefanos. Photo: Chris Koutsos |
| Readers living in the areas affected by the Greek fires have been keeping the BBC updated on the latest situation on the blazes threatening areas north of Athens. | Readers living in the areas affected by the Greek fires have been keeping the BBC updated on the latest situation on the blazes threatening areas north of Athens. |
| Firefighters are still battling the wildfires that have forced thousands to flee their homes, although the Greek government has said that the immediate danger had now passed. | Firefighters are still battling the wildfires that have forced thousands to flee their homes, although the Greek government has said that the immediate danger had now passed. |
| Read some of the updates from residents affected below. | Read some of the updates from residents affected below. |
| Greek fires: Your video | Greek fires: Your video |
| MARINA, NEA MAKRI, MONDAY 24 AUGUST 1100 GMT | |
| I live in one of the areas where the fires started. | I live in one of the areas where the fires started. |
| They came within 2km of our house but we have not been forced to evacuate - yet. We're still not sure if we will have to. | They came within 2km of our house but we have not been forced to evacuate - yet. We're still not sure if we will have to. |
| The situation was a lot worse over the weekend. | The situation was a lot worse over the weekend. |
| The view on Monday from Marina's balcony | |
| This area was covered in smoke and there were fires breaking out nearby every five minutes, but there have been airplanes flying overhead dropping water constantly and they have reduced it to smoke for now. | This area was covered in smoke and there were fires breaking out nearby every five minutes, but there have been airplanes flying overhead dropping water constantly and they have reduced it to smoke for now. |
| It was very worrying at one stage but we are relieved that it has improved. | It was very worrying at one stage but we are relieved that it has improved. |
| However, the winds are still very high so the fires could potentially break out again. | However, the winds are still very high so the fires could potentially break out again. |
| There are a lot of ashes blowing around now. | There are a lot of ashes blowing around now. |
| We have been lucky compared to people living about 5km away. | We have been lucky compared to people living about 5km away. |
| On the other side of the mountain beside us, a whole forest was burnt down and many houses were also destroyed. | On the other side of the mountain beside us, a whole forest was burnt down and many houses were also destroyed. |
| The nearby town of Aghios Stefanos was completely devastated and many people have lost their homes. | The nearby town of Aghios Stefanos was completely devastated and many people have lost their homes. |
| So we are relieved that we have been spared so far and will wait and hope that the fires do not start up again. | So we are relieved that we have been spared so far and will wait and hope that the fires do not start up again. |
| KATERINA PAPATRYFON DRAKOPOULIS, ATHENS, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST | KATERINA PAPATRYFON DRAKOPOULIS, ATHENS, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST |
| The fire spreading, as seen from Marathon beach. Photo: Maria Secova | The fire spreading, as seen from Marathon beach. Photo: Maria Secova |
| I recently moved back to Athens from New York. At the moment we are about 10 minutes away from the fires. I have my mother with me. My mother and father live about half a mile away from some of the worst fires. My father and brother are still out there. The fires are crazy. Just when you think they have been put out, the flames rise again and keep going. I didn't stay in the area. Other people are out there trying to save their homes, quite close to the fires. | I recently moved back to Athens from New York. At the moment we are about 10 minutes away from the fires. I have my mother with me. My mother and father live about half a mile away from some of the worst fires. My father and brother are still out there. The fires are crazy. Just when you think they have been put out, the flames rise again and keep going. I didn't stay in the area. Other people are out there trying to save their homes, quite close to the fires. |
| People are not leaving their homes. Not out of ignorance of the magnitude of the situation. On the contrary, they are not leaving because there are not enough forces on the ground or in the air to protect their homes. Staying behind trying to save their homes is all they can do. | People are not leaving their homes. Not out of ignorance of the magnitude of the situation. On the contrary, they are not leaving because there are not enough forces on the ground or in the air to protect their homes. Staying behind trying to save their homes is all they can do. |
| MARIA, MARATHON BEACH, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST | |
| Helicopters douse the flames. Photo: Maria Secova | Helicopters douse the flames. Photo: Maria Secova |
| I am on Marathon beach, 5km away from Marathon and 12km from Grammatico where the fire started. | I am on Marathon beach, 5km away from Marathon and 12km from Grammatico where the fire started. |
| I'm from Slovakia and I'm in Greece for the whole summer, to join a friend of mine. I am not aware of any advice for travellers. I would leave early if our village had to be evacuated, as I would not have any other accommodation - we rented a house here. | I'm from Slovakia and I'm in Greece for the whole summer, to join a friend of mine. I am not aware of any advice for travellers. I would leave early if our village had to be evacuated, as I would not have any other accommodation - we rented a house here. |
| I spotted the planes yesterday morning. But apparently the fire started on Friday evening further away. First I thought the planes were just watering the fields but then I noticed a lot of smoke in the distance. We're about five to six km away. I was a bit worried first but now it seems that the wind blows to the west, towards Athens. We are close to the beach so it's comparatively safe. But of course, I feel very sad about the damage it has caused. | I spotted the planes yesterday morning. But apparently the fire started on Friday evening further away. First I thought the planes were just watering the fields but then I noticed a lot of smoke in the distance. We're about five to six km away. I was a bit worried first but now it seems that the wind blows to the west, towards Athens. We are close to the beach so it's comparatively safe. But of course, I feel very sad about the damage it has caused. |
| I do not think we are in particular danger. The locals seem to be calm, they do not think the fire will reach us. But one never knows. | I do not think we are in particular danger. The locals seem to be calm, they do not think the fire will reach us. But one never knows. |
| Local people stand in the street and watch. Some roads were closed yesterday, the buses were suspended. I do not know about the situation today. There are several small planes and two large helicopters still going around trying to put out fires in some places nearby, but we can only see the smoke now. The air quality is very bad in the area - we can really smell the smoke. | Local people stand in the street and watch. Some roads were closed yesterday, the buses were suspended. I do not know about the situation today. There are several small planes and two large helicopters still going around trying to put out fires in some places nearby, but we can only see the smoke now. The air quality is very bad in the area - we can really smell the smoke. |
| There are not many tourists in my area, as it is a very small village. I can tell that there are fewer people on the beach today. Probably mainly locals. | There are not many tourists in my area, as it is a very small village. I can tell that there are fewer people on the beach today. Probably mainly locals. |
| ZOLTAN HORVATH, AGHIA PARASKEVI, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST | ZOLTAN HORVATH, AGHIA PARASKEVI, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST |
| Zoltan's video shows the spread of smoke | Zoltan's video shows the spread of smoke |
| I live in an eastern suburb of Athens. I wanted to go up a nearby mountain which is close to the centre of Athens to see what was happening, but they closed all roads going up. They say there is no fire up there, but it's still not allowed - everyone has to turn back. I think they are just scared of arsonists going up there, because this place is far away from where the fire is taking place. | I live in an eastern suburb of Athens. I wanted to go up a nearby mountain which is close to the centre of Athens to see what was happening, but they closed all roads going up. They say there is no fire up there, but it's still not allowed - everyone has to turn back. I think they are just scared of arsonists going up there, because this place is far away from where the fire is taking place. |
| I could smell something burning already on Friday, but it was weak so I thought 'it's not a big deal'. I didn't have to close my windows. But on Saturday morning I woke up and the smell was much worse. I looked out and this brown smoke was covering everything. | I could smell something burning already on Friday, but it was weak so I thought 'it's not a big deal'. I didn't have to close my windows. But on Saturday morning I woke up and the smell was much worse. I looked out and this brown smoke was covering everything. |
| Later in the day, the wind shifted so it took the smoke in another direction, but than it changed back late afternoon. Around 500 meters East from where I live there were already ashes falling from the sky, and very dark smoke towards the extreme eastern suburbs of Athens. | Later in the day, the wind shifted so it took the smoke in another direction, but than it changed back late afternoon. Around 500 meters East from where I live there were already ashes falling from the sky, and very dark smoke towards the extreme eastern suburbs of Athens. |
| The smell of smoke has got worse. I had to close all my shutters and windows and I still can smell it at my place. A lot depends on the wind, which is shifting very often. But I have to say the wind became calmer for the night, but it could be a lot different up there. | The smell of smoke has got worse. I had to close all my shutters and windows and I still can smell it at my place. A lot depends on the wind, which is shifting very often. But I have to say the wind became calmer for the night, but it could be a lot different up there. |
| IAN POLLARD, VOULA, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST | IAN POLLARD, VOULA, SUNDAY 23 AUGUST |
| For more than 36 hours, high winds have prevented the smoke from dispersing into the atmosphere. | For more than 36 hours, high winds have prevented the smoke from dispersing into the atmosphere. |
| Instead it has been driven down the mountainsides to pavement level in the southern coastal suburbs. | Instead it has been driven down the mountainsides to pavement level in the southern coastal suburbs. |
| White ash is falling like snow. Residents are keeping all windows closed but millions of Athenians are now breathing a toxic mix of smoke and ash, even 20 or 30km away from the scene of these devastating fires. | White ash is falling like snow. Residents are keeping all windows closed but millions of Athenians are now breathing a toxic mix of smoke and ash, even 20 or 30km away from the scene of these devastating fires. |