The fire threatens the power facilities that supply Athens with electricity after the substations were damaged. Fueled by the worst heat wave in decades, the flames also reached a summer palace in Tateo outside Athens, once used by the former Greek royal family.
Medieval disease
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis went for a personal look, as well as at ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games. He spoke of an unprecedented environmental crisis. The danger in the Peloponnese over Olympia has now passed after a night of extinction.
The Greek army will support the fire service and local authorities in fighting dozens of forest fires raging in the country. Currently, the largest fires are located in Ilia, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and on the popular tourist island of Evia, where residents and villages were evacuated on Thursday.
Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos confirmed after government consultations that the armed forces are coming to the rescue with helicopters, drones and soldiers. In addition to 500 soldiers, 39 aircraft and 63 vehicles, including bulldozers, were deployed. Patrols on the ground and in the air in areas at high risk of fire must ensure rapid intervention. A team is also formed to assist in the event of an evacuation. European Union countries also sent aid.
endless nightmare
“Nightmare Without End” and “Burning Everywhere” run the newspapers. With the drought and high temperatures continuing for the time being, Greeks are expected to face difficult days, according to the civil defense chief.
Fires are still raging in neighboring Turkey. In Bulgaria they are under control. North Macedonia declared a 30-day state of emergency on Thursday due to wildfires.
