(Photo : Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A local resident gestures as he holds n empty water hose during an attempt to extinguish forest fires approaching the village of Pefki on Evia (Euboea) island, Greece's second largest island, on August 8, 2021.
Greece continues to grapple with a relentless onslaught of wildfires that have wreaked havoc across the nation, leaving destruction in their wake.
Three big wildfires were still burning as of Sunday, putting firefighters' resiliency to the test and sparking a concerted worldwide effort to put out the fires and assist the impacted towns, according to DW.
Greece's Unyielding Battle Against Devastating Wildfires
The disaster's scope is mind-boggling; two of the wildfires have been blazing for days, made worse by gale-force winds and the dry, hot summer weather typical of Greece. With support flooding in from other European countries, more than 600 firefighters have volunteered to join the front lines.
A coordinated effort is being made to put out the fires thanks to the deployment of a fleet of water-dropping aircraft and helicopters. Greece has been battling a daily barrage of flames that reached a total of 105 on Sunday. 46 of them startledly ignited within a 24-hour period, showing the scope of the difficulty encountered by firefighting forces.
Investigations are being conducted to ascertain the causes of the fires, with arson being suspected in certain cases, as authorities fight feverishly to put out the flames.
In the northeastern regions of Evros and Alexandroupolis, a mammoth wildfire has raged for an astonishing nine days, accounting for a substantial portion of the 21 wildfire-related deaths reported in the past week. This massive fire, which was created when several smaller fires combined, has destroyed a wide area of woodland and homes in Alexandroupolis.
The tireless efforts of 295 firefighters, seven planes, and five helicopters are targeted at containing the flare-ups that continue to fuel new fire fronts. In response, evacuation orders have been issued for two villages, underlining the precarious situation that communities are facing.
The impact of the fires is staggering, with 77,000 hectares (297 square miles) of land scorched and 120 active hotspots identified, as reported by the European Union's Copernicus Emergency Management Service.
This program, which uses satellite imagery for mapping data, highlights the use of technology and teamwork in the fight against the crisis, as per the South China Morning Post.
Pope Francis Offers Prayers Amid Greek Wildfire Crisis
Pope Francis added his voice to the outpouring of support by expressing his solidarity with the Greek people and praying for the victims. The fires have been dangerously close to the Greek capital; one huge inferno nearby Athens, which had previously destroyed homes and a portion of a national park on Mount Parnitha, is now only causing flare-ups.
As the nation grapples with these infernos, a third major wildfire erupted on the Cycladic island of Andros, defying attempts to be brought under control. Lightning strikes are suspected to have ignited this particular blaze, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such disasters.
There are no longer any national boundaries in the fight against these flames. Due to the severity of the crisis, Greece is in need of assistance from other European countries. International firefighters from various countries are donating their skills on the ground, and countries like Germany, Sweden, Croatia, and Cyprus have sent planes to help with firefighting efforts.
Officials from the European Union have expressed worry that the key suspect in the escalating wildfires across Europe is still climate change.
Southern European nations are especially vulnerable to these catastrophes because of their hot, dusty summers. Greece's wildfire prevention laws, which are in effect from May to October, are intended to lessen such incidents, yet the problem still exists.
As the wildfire season progresses, about 163 people have been arrested around the country on fire-related offenses, including negligence and intentional arson. Greece's continued struggle against these fires demonstrates the valor of its firefighters, the tenacity of its citizens, and the critical value of global solidarity in difficult circumstances.
The country is unified in its commitment to restore its territories and rebuild its communities, despite the flames still posing a threat to homes and landscapes, New York Post reported
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