Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wind fuels wildfires in Greece
A firefighter douses a fire Monday in the town of Mati, east of Athens, Greece. Regional authorities have declared a state of emergency in the eastern and western parts of the greater Athens area as fires fanned by gale-force wind raged through pine forests and seaside settlements on either side of the Greek capital. A health ministry official said at least 20 people have died.
ATHENS, Greece — At least 20 people had died by early today and more than 104 had been injured in the deadliest wildfires to hit Greece in more than a decade.
Greece sought international help as the fires on either side of Athens left lines of cars torched, charred farms and forests, and sent hundreds of people racing to beaches to be evacuated by navy vessels, yachts and fishing boats.
Winds reached 50 mph as authorities deployed the country’s entire fleet of water-dropping planes and helicopters to give vacationers time to escape.
“We were unlucky. The wind changed and it came at us with such force that it razed the coastal area in minutes,” said Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the port town of Rafina, a sleepy mainland port that serves Greek holiday islands.
The dock area became a makeshift hospital Monday as paramedics checked survivors when they left coast guard vessels and private boats. The operation continued through the night.
The fire posed no immediate threat to Greece’s famed ancient monuments.
“It’s a difficult night for Greece,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said after flying back to Athens from a trip to Bosnia that was cut short.