Greece: More than 12,000 hectares burned in one week

The fires continue to require significant resources in Greece. On Monday, August 3, rescue workers were still battling three fronts northwest of Athens, while the total area burned in the country exceeded 12,000 hectares in one week.

Three fronts still active near Athens

The main hotspots were located in Psatha, Kryo Pigadi, and Kandyli, in an area between 45 and 70 kilometers northwest of the Greek capital. The seaside resort of Porto Germeno, evacuated since Friday, is among the hardest-hit areas.

A temporary lull in the wind allowed nine water bombers to resume their operations. Nine helicopters and approximately 450 firefighters were also involved in the operations in the Attica and Boeotia regions.

In the preceding days, gusts reaching 80 to 130 km/h had hampered the intervention of aerial resources. The fire risk remained at level 4 out of 5 in both regions.

Images taken on August 2 by a Sentinel-2 satellite show a vast brown scar on the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth. The plume of smoke extended more than 70 kilometers to the southeast.

More than 12,000 hectares burned in one week

The fires have ravaged forests, farmland, and scrubland. Estimates relayed from analyses by the European Copernicus program indicate that more than 12,000 hectares burned in Greece during the week.

For the single fire that broke out on July 31 near Psatha and Porto Germeno, Copernicus estimates that more than 10,000 hectares were affected. More than 100 homes were reportedly destroyed or damaged, according to information released by the Greek fire service.

Greece was relatively spared at the beginning of the summer. It is now facing a second week of major fires, amid heat and drought that are weakening the entire Mediterranean basin. AfrikMag had already covered severe fires in Greece in 2018.

A heavy toll among the rescue workers

The fight against the flames has already claimed the lives of several members of the response teams. Three firefighters died in the line of duty last week.

On Sunday, two Bell helicopters collided while responding to a call near Psatha. A Danish pilot and his Greek co-pilot were killed. The two occupants of the second helicopter were injured and hospitalized. An investigation has been launched, and all other Bell helicopters in the area have been grounded.

An investigation into the origin of the fire

In Porto Germeno, two employees of an electricity company were arrested as part of the investigation into the fire. Initial findings suggest a spark originated from an electrical cable.

The town, located on the Gulf of Corinth, welcomes many vacationers and second-home owners during the summer. Evacuations and damage are therefore hitting the area at the height of the tourist season. Other countries in the region have experienced similar crises, such as the forest fires in northern Morocco.