wildfires
Crime
Zakynthos Wildfires Raging on Seven Fronts for Second Day
A large wildfire with seven fronts is raging for a second day on Zakythos Island, in western Greece on Sunday, with no casualties reported so far, the Greek Fire Service said.
The fire, which started on Saturday, has damaged at...
Environment
Drone Footage Captures Destruction Caused by Wildfires North of Athens
Harrowing drone footage has captured the devastating aftermath of the enormous wildfire in Greece that raged for three days before firefighters finally contained the flames on Wednesday.
Dozens of houses and thousands hectares of forest land were destroyed by the...
Environment
Greek Government Asks EU for Help to Fight Wildfires
The Greek government has officially requested European civil protection assistance to help combat the forest fires raging near Athens, a spokesperson of the fire service, Stavroula Malliri told a press briefing.
Due to the ferocity and the large scale of...
Environment
Tsipras Visits Fire-Stricken Areas of Eastern Attica
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited the areas north of Athens that were severely damaged from the wildfire that was burning forest areas and houses for three days.
Tsipras flew by helicopter over the fire-stricken areas and met with exhausted...
Environment
Government Minister Claims Arson is Behind Zakynthos Fires
While visiting Zakynthos island, Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis, who is also the local Parliament member, said of the multiple wildfires: "This is planned."
The Civil Protection ministry mirrored this view, announcing an "arson destabilization attempt during the August Assumption Day...
Crime
Young Man Charged With Starting Fires in Attica
Greek authorities say a 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with starting 16 fires over the past five months.
A Fire Service announcement says the man is accused of deliberately setting fire to forests, farmland and empty plots in...
Environment
Fire Brigade Operations Center Reports Increase of Arson Cases and Wildfires in 2016
There was a 22.8 pct increase in the number of forest fires that broke out in 2016 compared with the previous year causing a more devastating effect with the area of burnt land rising by 124.5 pct, the Fire...
Environment
25% Less Fires in Greece in 2014
As summer is coming to an end, the first estimates of the Hellenic Fire Department (HFD) is that the number of forest fires in Greece this year fell sharply.
Unlike previous summer periods, the measurable effects of fires in 2014...
Greece
Two Arson Suspects Arrested as Greek Wildfires Spread
With more fires spreading out of control across Greece, a 24-year-old man who was reportedly upset he couldn't get a job as a firefighter was arrested and charged with arson for setting a devastating fire that wiped out much...
Greece
Greek Secret Service Will Probe Arson in Wildfires
With major wildfires raging for days across Greece, the country's Secret Service has been called in to investigate whether arson is involved. It's common in Greece for forested land to be deliberately burned so it can be developed.
On the...