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Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
Over 400 Greek firefighters battle wildfire on Chios for third day
Hundreds of firefighters backed by aircraft were battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Greek island of Chios on Tuesday, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders. Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos. By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support. Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze. "We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island, a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental," Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said on Monday. Authorities, he said, were "very seriously examining the possibility of an organised criminal act, in other words arson." The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced, while military patrols had been doubled. "Whoever thinks that they can play with the lives of citizens and cause chaos with premeditated actions will be led to court," Kefalogiannis said. "Arson is a serious crime and will be dealt with as such." Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 people died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Hundreds battle wildfires on Greek island for third day
Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft are battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders. Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos. By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support. Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze. "We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island - a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental," Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios. Authorities, he said, were "very seriously examining the possibility of an organised criminal act, in other words arson". The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced and military patrols had been doubled. Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames. Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft are battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders. Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos. By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support. Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze. "We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island - a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental," Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios. Authorities, he said, were "very seriously examining the possibility of an organised criminal act, in other words arson". The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced and military patrols had been doubled. Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames. Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft are battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders. Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos. By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support. Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze. "We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island - a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental," Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios. Authorities, he said, were "very seriously examining the possibility of an organised criminal act, in other words arson". The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced and military patrols had been doubled. Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames. Hundreds of firefighters backed up by aircraft are battling a wildfire burning out of control for the third day on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with authorities issuing multiple evacuation orders. Towering walls of flames tore through forest and agricultural land on the island, where authorities have declared a state of emergency and have sent firefighting reinforcements from Athens, the northern city of Thessaloniki and the nearby island of Lesbos. By Tuesday morning, the fire department said 444 firefighters with 85 vehicles were tackling the blaze on scattered fronts. Eleven helicopters and two water-dropping planes were providing air support. Emergency services have issued evacuation orders for villages and settlements in the area since Sunday, when fires broke out near the island's main town. The fire department has sent an arson investigation team to Chios to examine the cause of the blaze. "We are faced with simultaneous fires in multiple, geographically unconnected parts of the island - a pattern that cannot be considered coincidental," Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis said Monday from Chios. Authorities, he said, were "very seriously examining the possibility of an organised criminal act, in other words arson". The minister said police forces on the island had been reinforced and military patrols had been doubled. Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
India Today
a day ago
- Climate
- India Today
Climate change or arson? Wildfires rage across Greece's Chios Island
A massive wildfire has been raging on the Greek island of Chios since Saturday. The massive fire threatens residential areas, farmland, and the island's unique mastiha crops. The fire started as three separate blazes near Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios Vrontados, and has merged into a single, uncontrollable front, fuelled by strong winds. On Sunday, 190 firefighters, supported by 35 vehicles, 11 helicopters, and two water-dropping planes, are battling the blaze. These efforts are hampered by the windy conditions and steep rocky least 16 residential areas, including Dafnonas, Ververato, Karyes, and Agios Makarios, have been evacuated. Alerts were issued by Greece's 112 emergency system urging residents to flee to safer areas like Vrontados Beach or Chios town. Power outages have affected parts of the island, which are also complicating efforts to douse the fires have destroyed warehouses, damaged agricultural land, and raised concerns about olive and mastic trees, important to the local FIRES FUEL ARSON SUSPICION Apart from meteorological reasons, local authorities suspect arson as one of the possible causes, given the simultaneous outbreak of three fires. A specialist fire department arson investigation team has been deployed to the island to inquire into the angle. Greece's Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection expressed concern over the 'suspicious' nature of the fires, noting 110 fires across the country in the last 48 GREECE'S CHIOS REGION IS SO VULNERABLE TO WILDFIRES?advertisementChios, located in the eastern Aegean, is prone to wildfires during Greece's hot, dry summers. Officials attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such blazes to climate change. The island previously suffered catastrophic wildfire damage in 2016, which destroyed 90% of mastic trees in some areas. Greece had invested heavily in firefighting resources, hiring a record number of firefighters and acquiring modern equipment, but the ongoing fire season remains IS CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING WILDFIRES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES?High temperatures are one of the reasons for wildfires. Chios, like much of Greece, has seen prolonged heatwaves, with summer temperatures often exceeding 40C, priming forests and mastic groves for rainfall and extended droughts are also one of major reasons for such fires. Greece experienced a 30% rainfall deficit in some regions creating tinderbox conditions. On Chios, parched soils and vegetation, including olive and mastic trees, fuel rapid fire shifts in weather patterns intensify winds, like those fanning the Chios fires. Gusts up to 60 km/h have spread flames across steep, rocky terrain, overwhelming firefighting situation remains critical, with no injuries reported so far, but the fires continue to threaten homes and livelihoods. Tourists, including British and Irish holidaymakers, have been warned, and some evacuations have affected popular areas near Chios town- Ends
