Forest fires devastate Greece: at least 50 dead near Athens in heatwave

ATHENS.- The
The summer in the northern hemisphere is causing havoc. Areas accustomed to freezing temperatures live
thermal sensations ever seen, in


Japan
the thermometers marked the 41 degrees and the heat caused the death of
more than 40 people. In


Greece
the situation is not much more encouraging: at least 50 people died amid forest fires that broke out in the east of


Athens

Deputy mayor of the region, Girgos Kokkolis, reports that 26 burnt bodies were found in a house this morning, in addition to the 24 that are already in the database to the data of the emergency services . and hospitals.

In addition, there are more than 150 wounded, several seriously. Most of the victims were registered in Mati, a spa located about 40 km east of the capital, where many houses are surrounded by pine forests.

Authorities also reported that fishermen, coastguards and vacationers of inflatable vehicles have saved more than 700 people from the waters, beaches and rocky outcrops in which they had taken refuge

Most fires could be controlled despite winds of more than 100 km / h due to rain. intervention of planes and helicopters to extinguish the flames. "We hope to extinguish them today," said a firefighters spokesman on state television. Fires have also been reported in the west of Athens, near Kineta, a popular holiday destination, at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius

The testimonies of the inhabitants of the region are shocking. They say the fire was so big that smoke clouds were visible on Athens and the sun was darkened. Only in the east of Athens, more than 200 homes and hundreds of cars were destroyed or damaged.

Faced with this situation, the metropolitan area of ​​the capital of Greece has been declared in a state of disrepair. urgency and Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, returned early from a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina and expressed suspicion that the fire could have been caused by arsonists

Tsipras canceled the planned annual events to commemorate the restoration of democracy in Greece in July 1974, and urged those living in the affected areas to "remember that the most important is life" and not to risk it because of the desire to protect property at all. price.

According to the Secretary General of Civil Protection, Yannis Kapakis, the fires were hit by winds of over 100 km / h, an "extreme situation".

International Assistance

Faced with the critical situation, several European governments offered their help to Greece. Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos announced that Spain would send two planes into the country and that Cyprus would provide a team of 60 firefighters

Fires have also caused extensive damage in the north of the continent, from Norway to Latvia, and particularly in Sweden, where heat and drought triggered fires in the forests and meadows.

In Sweden, with more than 25 active fires, according to the MSB civil protection service, temperatures are expected to reach 35 degrees this week

Countries like France, Italy and Germany have sent air and land badets, as well as firefighters, to try to quell the flames in Sweden, d summer temperatures are generally around 23 degrees

In Lapland, the most northerly province of Finland, fire destroyed forests and pastures near the Russian border.

DPA and AFP agencies