Greek fire damages more than 2,000 homes; death toll at 86

MATI, Greece — More than 2,000 homes were damaged in this week’s deadly wildfire near Athens and roughly a quarter of them will have to be demolished, Greek officials said Friday, revealing more about the disaster that has seen the government face mounting criticism.

As the death toll from the fire reached 86, the Infrastructure Ministry said it has inspected some 2,000 damaged homes in the fire-hit Rafina area, 18 miles east of the capital.

State coroners have completed autopsies on all the bodies recovered so far, and increased the death toll to 86.

Greek government officials have refused to acknowledge criticism, including claims of poor emergency planning ahead of the country’s annual wildfire season.

On Friday, however, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to defuse the mounting criticism of his government.

“I accept full political responsibility for this tragedy,” Tsipras told a televised meeting with his Cabinet ministers. “It is an obvious thing for the prime minister to do and I urge you to do the same.”

Rafina Mayor Evangelos Bournous said an evacuation wouldn’t have been an option, given the speed of the fire and the haphazard layout of the area, which featured small winding roads and cliffs next to the sea.

Authorities have said the fire moved with such speed that ordering an evacuation of the area could have resulted in even more casualties.

They have also said that the deadly fire may have been the result of arson, and are investigating the source of the fire.