Devastating fires are raging in numerous regions in Greece and Turkey. International helpers should support the emergency services on site.
Athens / Istanbul – The fight against fire continues in Greece and Turkey. Both countries have been hit by devastating fires for days, forcing many people to leave their homes. The strong wind in particular makes it difficult for the helpers inside to bring the flames under control. With temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius, Greece and Turkey are currently experiencing an extraordinary heat wave.
Fires in Greece and Turkey: residents have to go to hotels for the time being
On the night of Saturday (August 7th, 2021), firefighters were on duty in both countries to put out the fires. Again and again warnings were issued and people asked to leave the affected regions and to get to safety from the flames. Areas in the north of Athens sometimes burned for miles – residents: inside had to be accommodated in hotels, with relatives or acquaintances. In addition, many islands are particularly affected by the fires.
2000 residents: inside the town of Limni on the island of Evia, had to be rescued from the flames and evacuated by ferry because the overland route could not be reached due to the flames. The Peloponnese and Crete peninsula and cities such as Grevena in the north of the country are also affected after days of intense heat and drought there. In Turkey, the fires have so far mostly broken out in coastal regions.
Fires in Greece and Turkey: Germany is checking whether help is possible
For example, emergency services in Mugla in western Turkey and in the Köycegiz district are working tirelessly. Among other things, they had to protect a power station from the flames and remove combustible material to prevent possible explosions. In Antalya, southern Turkey, all fires have now been extinguished – but not in time to avoid enormous devastation. Some villages were unable to withstand the flames, so the Afad civil protection agency initially provided emergency shelters.
Greece is to receive support from international helpers from Saturday (August 7th, 2021). According to the Greek civil defense, the country is expecting numerous emergency services and fire engines from France, Israel, Ukraine, Cyprus, Switzerland, Romania and Sweden. Several fire-fighting planes are also being made available by the neighboring countries. Germany has not yet sent any support to the affected regions – a possible deployment is being examined. (Teresa Toth)
Picture gallery: © Thodoris Nikolaou / dpa
