Mega Wildfire Rages On: Historic Inferno Engulfs Greece as International Forces Battle the Blaze
The European Union is battling its largest wildfire in over two decades, with no signs of it stopping. Thousands have been evacuated and the devastation continues to spread, despite multinational firefighting efforts. The international community stands in solidarity with Greece as they fight to bring an end to the destruction.
The European Union is currently facing its largest wildfire in over two decades, with no signs of it abating. The blaze, which began near the port city of Alexandroupolis on August 19, has now joined with smaller fires to form an unstoppable inferno in northeastern Greece. Homes and vast areas of land near the border with Turkiye have been decimated, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. Tragically, the fire has also been responsible for 20 of Greece's 21 fire-related deaths last week.
Greece wildfire declared largest ever recorded in EU: https://t.co/rcnOmom8tb. Record wildfires in Europe, in Canada, record low arctic ice, record high global temps...
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) August 30, 2023
How many more records do we need to break before we #ActOnClimate#climate #energy #renewables pic.twitter.com/jCeIGov4Vx
Despite the efforts of a multinational firefighting force on the ground, consisting of 475 firefighters supported by 11 planes and five helicopters, the flames continue to rage. The fire is currently concentrated deep in the forest of the Dadia National Park. The blaze has already burned around 81,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of land, making it the largest single wildfire any EU member nation has experienced since records began in 2000. The European Union's Copernicus Emergency Management Service, which utilizes satellite imagery for mapping data, has been monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, dozens of new wildfires have been breaking out each day in Greece, although most have been extinguished in their early stages.
However, several fires have grown into major blazes, resulting in the precautionary evacuation of thousands of people. In response to the widespread devastation, several countries have come forward to assist in battling the wildfires. Firefighters from Romania, France, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Albania, Slovakia, and Serbia have joined forces, alongside 12 aircraft from Germany, Sweden, Croatia, Cyprus, France, and Spain. Their collective efforts have been commendable but have yet to fully tame the ferocious flames. In addition to the ongoing wildfire in northeastern Greece, a major fire on the outskirts of Athens has been causing havoc for over a week.
Mount Parnitha, one of the last significant green areas near the Greek capital, has been severely impacted. Although the fire is currently limited to occasional flare-ups within the forest, it remains a cause for concern. As the fight against these devastating wildfires continues, the international community stands in solidarity with Greece, offering their support and resources to help bring an end to the destruction. Despite the challenges faced, the brave firefighters and their allies are relentless in their pursuit to extinguish the flames and protect lives and land.
