Greece Seeks EU Aid Amidst Widespread Wildfires
Greece has requested EU assistance to combat over 100 wildfires ignited by strong winds and dry conditions, the fire service reported on Tuesday, as the situation escalates across southern Europe. The most critical fires are currently raging on the popular tourist island of Zante and in western Greece, particularly in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese, where approximately 20 villages have been evacuated, reports 24brussels.
In light of the intensifying crisis, Greece has sought four water bombers through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, according to fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis during a press briefing. Despite the severity of the wildfires threatening multiple countries, there has yet to be a formal request from Spain, Portugal, or France regarding assistance.
Authorities are also probing suspected arson as the probable cause behind the fires in western Greece, given the unusual number of fire outbreaks. Strong winds, reaching speeds of up to 88 kilometers per hour, have been battering the country since last week, exacerbating the wildfire conditions south of Athens, which has already claimed one life. These conditions are predicted to persist until Thursday.
Thus far, more than 22,000 hectares have been devastated by fire in Greece this year, as noted by the European Forest Fire Information System. Other regions of southern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, are grappling with their own wildfire challenges, exacerbated by a heatwave which scientists attribute to the intensifying effects of climate change driven by human activities.
