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The violent fires that ravaged Monday around the Greek capital left at least 20 dead and 104 wounded, according to a new count of authorities.
A macabre countdown in Greece: the Greek authorities were attempting on the night of Monday, July 23 to Tuesday, July 24, to establish the human toll of the violent fires that ravaged the Athens area during the day. "More than 20 people" were killed in the fires, announced the spokesman of the Greek government, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos. A previous report showed 9 dead and 56 wounded.
Most of the victims were trapped in the sector of the seaside resort of Mati, 40 km north-east of Athens, at home or in their cars. , he said, quantifying "more than 104" the number of wounded, including 11 seriously. Among the wounded there are sixteen children, according to the same source.
Boats, including military buildings, mobilized to evacuate residents and tourists who fled the flames on the beaches and at sea were pouring into the night in Rafina, where In the midst of the situation, the presidency of the Republic canceled the annual reception scheduled for Tuesday to commemorate the restoration of democracy in Greece in July 1974.
European Civil Protection Mechanism
"The time has come to fight the flames" Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared after presiding over a crisis meeting, evoking a "night difficult ". The prime minister cut short a move to Mostar, Bosnia, to return to coordinate the operations.
M. Tsipras cost "more than 600" firefighters deployed on three fronts left in the day, two of which continued to advance in the night, around Mati and 55 km west of the capital, near the town of Kinetta, along the highway leading to the Corinth Cbad. But the night interrupted air operations, carried out earlier by eight planes and nine helicopters
According to the Secretary General for Civil Protection, Yannis Kapakis, the fires were fanned in the day by winds blowing up more than 100 km / h, an "extreme situation" .
Athens has also activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request reinforcements from its partners, and Cyprus and Spain have already proposed to help, according to Mr. Kapakis
Heat Wave
According to TV images, the flames drove residents onto roads in panic, and damaged many buildings. Above Kinetta, the fire also burned homes and cars. Three subdivisions, mostly second homes, were evacuated and the municipality opened premises to accommodate their inhabitants. The affected areas were covered all day with thick clouds of smoke, also covering the skies over the capital, while road traffic and electricity supply were disrupted.
The Prime Minister baderted himself "Concerned about the simultaneous outbreak of these homes" . Deputy Interior Minister Nikos Toskas had earlier hinted that the fires could be of criminal origin.
The fires took place as a heatwave hit the country, with temperatures climbing up to 40 degrees Celsius. According to the weather services, the conditions must remain difficult Tuesday.
Forest fires and maquis are recurring in Greece in summer, especially in the green areas surrounding the capital. The last most devastating fires in the Peloponnese and on the island of Evia in 2007 killed 77 people, ravaging 250,000 hectares of forests, maquis and crops.
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