Three-day national mourning in Greece after forest fires

Greece said Tuesday three days of national mourning after the death of at least 60 people in forest fires around Athens. More than 150 people were injured. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke in a TV show about an "indescribable tragedy".

The fires raged on Monday night, fueled by strong winds, quickly through desiccated pine forests and seaside resorts in and around Mati, a village some 30 kilometers to the east of the Greek capital. Farms and cars remained charred. Hundreds of people have fled to the beaches in hopes of being evacuated by boats, coast guards and warships.

Although some 700 people were successfully evacuated, it was too late for some. On Tuesday morning, relief organizations found the bodies of more than 20 people near a beach. They had gathered there, fleeing the fire.

Read also: The heat wave in Sweden thousands of hectares of forest in smoke

Dutch

Nothing is known about the Dutch victims, said a spokesman for the ministry Foreign Affairs. Dutch people who have had problems with fires can contact the ministry. This has not been the case until here.

Greek authorities declared the state of emergency Monday evening. Residents from different villages were called out of the area. The popular holiday destination has also sought help from EU member states. The state of emergency applies to the regions of East and West Attica, a peninsula of nearly four million inhabitants. Governor Rena Dourou sent buses, tanker trucks and other equipment to fight the fire.

Second fire

A second fire rages about fifty kilometers to the west of Athens. There are at least 150 firefighters, five firefighters and seven helicopters deployed. Because of the thick smoke, the motorways of the Great Peninsula Peloponnese are closed. "We are doing everything humanly possible to keep it under control," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said. "I am worried about simultaneous epidemics."

Sweden also fights forest fires

Forest fires are common in Greece, but a dry winter has caused the fire. even easier to distribute. In 2007, dozens of people were killed by forest fires.

Sweden also suffers from exceptionally heavy forest fires. During the past week, at least 20,000 hectares of fire have increased in dozens of forest fires, including in areas above the Arctic Circle. Several European countries, including Norway and France, help fight the fire.