Athens: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has issued a warning about the imminent threat of wildfires in the country this summer. He emphasized the dangerous conditions caused by a prolonged drought and unusually strong winds, creating a tinderbox scenario.
Wildfires are unfortunately common in Greece, but the combination of hotter, drier, and windier weather, attributed to climate change by scientists, has led to an increase in both the frequency and intensity of these disasters.
Over the past weekend, numerous fires erupted across Greece, with two fires dangerously close to the capital, Athens.
“It is a summer which is expected to be particularly dangerous, with the most challenging times still ahead of us,” Mitsotakis stated during a cabinet address.
Despite the difficult weather conditions in June, including high drought and exceptional gusts of wind for the season, firefighters managed to contain the fires over the weekend, Mitsotakis commended their efforts.
Fortunately, thanks to the prompt response from state emergency authorities, less than 100,000 square meters of land were burned in the two fires, minimizing the damage.
This year, Greece has amplified its preparations by hiring additional staff and providing increased training. These measures come in the wake of last year’s devastating forest fires, which forced 19,000 people to evacuate the island of Rhodes and resulted in 20 casualties in the northern region of the country.
“While our arsenal may be stronger, the key lies in being prepared. This is evident in practice, highlighting the importance of collective vigilance against natural disasters,” Mitsotakis stressed.
