Greece on fire … a modern day tragedy
Posted by evdomada on August 25, 2007
The news today from Greek television and radio stations is tragic.
44 people have been confirmed dead across the country due to blazes burning across the country. In particular, areas in the Peloponnese are still burning and putting many peoples’ lives in jeopardy. The fire is threatening to cross from the state of Ileia to Achaia with strong wind forces making the situation even more difficult. The wind is so strong that helicopters are unable to fly to the fires and give assistance from the air. Only people on the ground and the few fire brigades are fighting the flames, in some cases people only have branches available to them to fight the flames.
Fires are not only in Ileia but also across Arcadia, Messinia and Laconia. Accounts given by individuals seem to give a picture of despair and a desperate shortage of fire brigade services that could be able to be at every fire front.
One man interviewed by an Antenna reporter described the situation as “a battle for Greek people … this is Greece’s own 9/11″.
In Evoia people are going to the beach side to escape the fires that are encroaching on their homes.
There are also fires blazing in suburban east-side Athens on the slopes of Mount Ymittos. There are accounts that a block of apartments had been on fire in the north eastern suburb of Papagou.
The President of Greece Karolos Papoulias visited the Peloponnese and in a discussion captured by an Antenna camera crew with PASOK leader George Papandreou, he made a statement that made a lot of sense. He was in disbelief that so many fires could have started across so many places in Greece just by chance.
Personally I have to agree that these fires across Greece must be purposely lit and we can only hope that those responsible are caught and punished severely. These fires have not only destroyed scarce forests but they will have a disastrous ecological impact on Greece.
With temperatures still rising and a heatwave in Greece, we can only pray that the situation is somehow, miraculously over very soon with no more human loss or casualties.
For more news click on the following links
