Greece - Forest Fires

The worst forest fire season on record in Greece climaxed over the last two days with over 100 fires raging throughout the country resulting in over 50 deaths (and rising…) and thousands of acres worth of forest lost.

Today a fire raged on Hymettos Mountain. Pine forest was razed, houses and blocks of flats were burned and a pall of smoke hung over the city blotting out the sun and turning the landscape orange. The smell of burned pine is in the air and ash falls from the sky like snow. The feeling is one of siege.. it feels as though the city and the country are at war.

Clearly the result of not only one of the hottest ever summers with temperatures hitting 47 C but in most part the result of arsonists. Conspiracy theories are also raging from it being the work of foreigners unhappy with Greece for whatever reason, to it being the work of leftist extremists set on over-throwing the government…

Whatever the reasons, the people of Greece could not be more depressed with the situation.. I’ve spoken to many who break into tears at the thought of the loss both human and environmental. A woman and her four children were burned alive in their car trying to escape flames fanned by high winds, Athens last oasis of greenery in Parnitha was almost completely burned with the loss of rare flora and fauna.

The feeling of helplessness, sadness and anger is tangible.