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Greek Wildfires

From the beginning of August, hundreds of wildfires have burned in Greece. As a result of the intense heat wave affecting Greece, these fires engulfed buildings and forests, killing at least two people and injuring numerous others. The wildfires damaged extensive areas of the island of Evia and some of the Peloponnese region, including Mani, Messenia, and Olympia. Officials evacuated thousands of people from these locations. Firefighters, some of them volunteers, are still working to contain the fires, leading to some casualties along the way.

Beginning on August 2, 2021, wildfires ravaged Evia, the second-largest island in Greece. The fire destroyed acres of forest along with homes from at least five villages. The government issued evacuations for people living in Evia and the mainland. People escaped from their villages, some even walking on foot, heading to their only source of escape--the harbor. As the fire burned to the coast, the coast guard struggled to evacuate everyone. On the fourth day, the coast guard evacuated 650 by boat. Ferries worked laboriously to transport everyone to safety. In total, more than 2,000 people were moved from Evia.

Fires also burned near Athens. North of Athens, the blazes threatened Lake Marathon, the capital’s main source of water. A separate branch of fire headed toward Mount Pranitha national park, an area that barely survived the previous wildfires of 2007. Police officers traveled door to door asking citizens to relocate, while the flames spread further, consuming homes, cars, and businesses. While helping near Athens, a 38-year-old volunteer was killed by a falling utility pole. Another person, a 64-year-old bulldozer operator, died while helping to put out a fire in Fokida. The driver fell off a cliff while heading to Milia. Two more volunteers were treated in a hospital for extensive burns.

Along with Evia and Athens, the wildfires also threatened Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics. Firefighters battled day and night to protect the archaeological site from significant damage. Over a hundred workers fought the blazes, accompanied by two water-dropping planes and four helicopters. Although they managed to contain the flames, the fire left behind scorched earth and burned corpses of animals. These corpses included rabbits, sheep, dogs, and more. Two more blazes erupted in areas northwest and southeast of Athens. Villages were evacuated and firefighters were deployed, resulting in the situation improving.

The Greek officials investigated some reports of arson, including a person setting fire to a dumpster. Three other people were arrested under suspicion of starting fires, two of them intentionally. However, no matter the cause of individual flames, climate change played a consequential part in the crisis. Recently, temperatures have been higher than usual, leading to dryness that can easily accommodate fires. To help the firefighters, the civilians affected by the fire, and the wildlife, please consider donating to the charities linked below.


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