Devastating wildfires continue to rampage across Greece, posing a significant challenge for firefighters who are struggling to contain the infernos. The death toll has risen to 21 this week as the fires show no signs of abating.
On Friday, Greek authorities discovered the body of a man in the Evros region, where the initial victim was found earlier in the week. Tragically, 19 additional bodies, suspected to be migrants including two children, were also found in the same area.
The Evros area, frequently used by migrants crossing from neighboring Turkey, had been forewarned about potential entrapment due to the fires that erupted on Saturday.
Another fatality occurred as an elderly shepherd lost his life in a fire in Boeotia, north of Athens, on Monday.
Pavlos Marinakis, government spokesperson, noted that Greece is facing its most challenging year in terms of climate conditions and cited a staggering 516 new fire outbreaks that the fire brigade has dealt with in the past week.
Despite efforts, the Evros firefront remains a formidable hurdle for firefighters. The flames have engulfed the Dadia forest, a significant sanctuary for birds of prey in Europe.
The wildfires in Alexandroupoli mark the largest within the EU for 2023 and second largest since 2000, according to EU records. Meanwhile, a fire in Mount Parnitha near Athens has been brought under control, and conditions in the Boeotia fire have improved.
Authorities suspect arsonists to be responsible for the simultaneous outbreaks. Investigations now involve the national intelligence service, and a 45-year-old man was apprehended on suspicion of arson.
Central Greece and Athens face an extremely high fire risk on Friday according to forecasts. The fires have already consumed over 120,000 hectares (nearly 30,000 acres) of land in Greece in 2023 as of Wednesday, a stark contrast to the yearly average since 2006, as reported by the European Observatory of Forest Fires.
