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Athens, Greece
Drone images of the area around Athens show the extent of the devastation: charred pine forests as far as the eye can see.
It looks like this in many places in the country: so far, according to data from the European forest fire information system, 560 square kilometers of area have been burned.
The fires in northern Athens are currently under control, but the fires continue to rage on the second largest Greek island of Evia, east of Athens.
Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister of Civil Protection
“We are fighting on two fronts that are far apart, in the north and in the south of Evia.
The strong winds of up to four on the Beaufort scale drive the fire in the north into the coastal villages.
We are doing everything we can to put out the fires in the air and on the ground.
Fire fighting planes have been in use non-stop since the early hours of the morning. "
The northern part of the island is now almost completely cut off from the rest of the island by the big fires.
Thousands of residents have already had to leave the island.
They were brought to safety by ferries, but the uncertainty runs deep.
Many islanders feel they have been left alone by the authorities; they criticize the fact that aid has mainly focused on the capital.
Mina, island resident
»We are scared, we feel lost and abandoned.
I can't describe it: it's like a horror movie.
You watch a horror movie and think, ok, this is just a movie.
But this is our real life.
We've been experiencing this horror for a week. "
The European Union has offered Greece further assistance;
Meanwhile, firefighters from two federal states in Germany are on their way to the forest fire areas.
There is no improvement in sight: a new heat wave is forecast for this week throughout southern Europe, again with temperatures above 40 degrees.