Greek Fires

Home > Travel > Greek Fires
Dated: Tuesday 28th, August, 2007

Travel News: If you are travelling to Greece or have any friends relatives in Greece on holidays, as you might have heard they are having problems with Greek forest fires. To make things worse there was an earthquake on Tuesday 28th August 2007.

The strong earthquake hit fire-ravaged southern Greece and had a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale. It came as fire-fighters battled to contain the blazes which have devastated large parts of the country. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The earthquake struck just after noon and had an epicentre 185 kilometres west of Athens, 15 kilometres east of Pyrgos near Ancient Olympia. The quake panicked residents in the region and was felt in areas where fire-fighters were battling blazes.

Fighting the Fires in Greece

Foreign firefighters and aircraft joined in battling wildfires on Tuesday (28th August 2007) that have burned nearly a half-million acres and killed 64 people in five days in what Greece's president called a "national catastrophe."

The devastating blazes have infuriated Greeks, already stunned by deadly forest fires in June and July of 2007 and appear likely to dominate political debate before general elections scheduled for September 16. Many blamed the conservative government for failing to respond quickly enough.

Fire-fighters themselves have also come under criticism as disorganized and late to arrive. Some people also blamed a previous government's decision in 1998 to transfer responsibility for battling blazes from the forestry department to the national fire department.

The country's worst fires in memory have burned olive groves, forests, orchards and homes and the government budgeted upward of $410 million for immediate relief, although the bill was expected to be much higher, the Finance Ministry said.

Southern Greece, where the flames reached the birthplace of the ancient Olympics narrowly escaped being consumed by flames after an intense fight by fire crews backed by aircraft. But the nearby grounds of the International Olympic Academy were destroyed. So, too, was the grove where the heart of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, is buried.

Arsonists suspected of being behind Greek Forest Fires

The Greek authorities are using anti-terror laws in a bid to crackdown on people suspected of starting fires deliberately. A total of 32 suspected arsonists have now been arrested. Arson is often suspected in Greek wildfires, as people attempt to clear land for development. A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch the arsonists suspected of being behind Greek forest fires

More than 2,000 people marched in the capital Athens on Monday (27 August 2007) in protest at the government's handling of the crisis. Ash has been falling on the city and walls of flames have engulfed entire villages, forests and farmland. Desperate residents appealed through television stations for help from a firefighting service stretched to the limit.

A state of emergency was declared on Saturday and help has been pouring in from all around the world.

Greek Fire Links

Fire-Ravaged Greece Hit By Earthquake: Yahoo News (28 Aug 2007)

Greece: Fires a 'national catastrophe': Chicago Tribune (28 Aug 2007)

Quake strikes fire-ravaged south Greece: from CNews Canada (28 Aug 2007)

Greek forest fires reward offered: BBC News (Monday 27 August 2007)