More than 20 dead in forest fires near Athens – Panorama

• Two wildfires have become uncontrollable in the vicinity of the Greek capital, Athens
• At least 50 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded, many of whom have been seriously injured.
• Many Athenians have their apartments in the area. Thousands of people have fled the area. All the streets were clogged.
• Currently, temperatures in Greece are about 40 degrees. In addition, wind gusts of magnitude seven blow in the affected area.

The forest fires that started near Athens have so far cost at least 50 lives. Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos spoke at least 20 people on Greek television on Tuesday night and in the morning, Red Cross volunteers found 26 more bodies near Rafina. The number of victims of devastating fires could continue to increase: more than 100 people are currently treated in hospitals. Many of them have suffered life-threatening burns and other injuries, Tzanakopoulos said. Among the wounded are also 16 children.

TV reporters reported that more and more charred bodies were being discovered in various locations east of Athens. The Skai news channel reported that in one house the bodies had been discovered by two women and their children. "Women have hugged their children in despair to protect them from the flames," a station reporter said. The body of another infant was discovered. The fire department wanted to make a balance in the morning. Information on tourists among the victims was not available initially.

In the port city of Rafina, the flames penetrated into the city center. Thousands of people have fled the area. Hundreds escaped the flames in the sea. For hours, fishermen and pbading ships took people out of the water. In the port of Rafina, desperate parents were showing pictures of their loved ones and asking pbaders-by if they had seen them

Burnout Houses, Charred Cars

The fires were so strong that clouds were smoking on Athens and obscured the sun. In the metropolitan area of ​​the Greek capital, the state of emergency has been proclaimed. Thousands of Athenians have their apartments in the affected areas. Several mayors told the press that more than 200 homes and hundreds of cars were destroyed or damaged in the east of Athens only

The worst case scenario occurred, said on TV the Head of Greek Civil Defense Giannis Kapakis. The flames were raging in a heavily forested area. Several camps for children had to be evacuated. Electricity, telephone and internet dropped in some areas. Due to the strong smoke formation, the highway and the railway line between Athens and Corinth were closed.

"We are doing everything in our power to deal with these fires," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said. Bosnia. He stopped his trip prematurely to call an emergency meeting. He said more than 600 firefighters and 300 vehicles were in action. "My thoughts are with people and forces," said Tsipras, the Greek TV channel ERT. He expressed the suspicion that the arsonists might be behind the fires.

The prime minister ordered fire brigades from other regions as well as the military to send to Athens, according to the state radio. In addition, Greece has sought help from other EU countries, said a spokeswoman for the fire.

Strong winds make dyking difficult

The first fire broke out in a pine forest near Kineta. The second has raged since Monday afternoon in the region of Penteli, northeast of the capital. Also on the island of Crete it burns. The fire department said the agricultural and forest areas were on fire.

Currently, temperatures in Greece are about 40 degrees. In addition, gusts of magnitude seven are blowing in the region around Athens. For firefighters, volunteers and the military worry about adding that they have to fight after dark without the help of planes and helicopters against the flames. "It will be a long night," said a firefighter on television.