The nightmare caused by the fires burning across Greece continues for the fifth day in a row, fueled by strong winds, while public outrage accuses the Government of a lack of preparation.
Of the hundreds of fires that have been declared in recent days, the most serious remain uncontrolled on the island of Euboea, the Peloponnese and the northern suburbs of Athens, although the latter shows a more optimistic picture after a catastrophic Friday in which the flames forced dozens of municipalities to evacuate in a frenzy.
There are currently 55 active fronts in the country.
Air quality in Athens has become almost unbearable, according to residents, due to smoke from wildfires that have reached the city's suburbs.
"Close all the windows and do not leave the house," instructed the authorities, while the deputy governor of Greater Athens, Wassilis Kokkalis, has warned that everyone works against the clock.
“For the first time we can say that the situation has improved somewhat.
Right now we have two fronts open instead of four ”, explained the deputy governor of the Attica region, Nikos Peppas, to Skai TV.
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Wildfires in the eastern Mediterranean, in pictures
"Because last night," Peppas lamented, "it was a real hell, a nightmare", while the population was evacuated from the main road that connects the capital with northern Greece.
There, early on Friday, the floodlights had formed a wide front that threatened the residential areas of Thrakomadedones, Stamata and Agios Stefanos.
Despite the rain that finally dropped an hour this morning on the island of Euboea, strong winds have carried the fire to the southwest after devastating almost the entire north of the island, putting its capital, Chalcis, at risk.
Meanwhile, the northern front is only a few kilometers from Istiea, where the air presence increased to protect the 25,000 people present in the area.
"We have nowhere to go, they have brought the evacuees here and now we will all burn," a neighbor of Istiea told the media through tears, accusing the government of waiting for the sea to stop the fire.
Almost 40 populations have been evacuated in Euboea.
Last night, more than 600 people had to be taken from the island by ferry in an operation that left film images, with neighbors, tourists and their pets watching from the water how a wall of fire dyed the entire mountain red until almost reaching Sea.
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Absolutely terrifying footage from a ferry carrying passengers escaping the shores of Lake Evia in #Greece.
pic.twitter.com/5H9jzapXl0
- Dino Sofos (@dinosofos) August 7, 2021
The Governor of Central Greece, Fanis Spanos, has criticized precisely the lack of means, spread throughout the country, and regretted that the first residences of at least 300 families have been destroyed.
The deputy governor of the capital region Attica, Nikos Peppas, assured Skai private television today that despite the "real hell" that has been experienced during the night, the authorities hope to have this fire fully under control by the end of the day.
However, firefighters are more cautious about the possible increase this afternoon in the intensity of gusts of wind, one of the main factors that yesterday worsened the situation in the north of the capital.
A major operation is still present in which an amphibious plane sent by Spain is already active along with six members of the Military Emergency Unit, as confirmed today by the Spanish ambassador to Greece, Enrique Viguera.
So far, the fire has left a fatality.
A 38-year-old man who died from injuries caused by a falling power pole while participating in the fire fighting in the northern suburbs of Athens as a volunteer firefighter.
In addition, there are four hospitalized firefighters, two in critical condition due to burns to the respiratory tract.
Three detainees
As announced by the Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection, Nikos Jardaliás, so far there have been three arrests: a man in Kalamata, in the Peloponnese, accused of several arson, another man in Phocis, in the center of the country, for alleged negligence after burning stubble, and a woman in the center of Athens, for trying to start a fire.
In addition to the anger of those affected and criticism on social networks, there is information from local media that indicates that in the last decade more than a billion euros have been cut in prevention and fight against fires and, in addition, warns that the lack of maps Foresters opens a window to premeditated burning for speculation, although the Government has assured that all affected areas will be considered reforestable.
In addition, several media highlight that, while the conservative government increased the military budget and hired police officers, the summer has caught Greece with 4,000 fewer firefighters and outdated trucks. According to these reports, the Firefighters asked the State for a budget of 17 million euros for 2021 and have received 1.7 million.