2021 Greece wildfires

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2021 Greece wildfires
LocationEuboea, Peloponnese and Attica, Greece
Statistics
Total fires140+
Total area125,000 hectares
Date(s)3 August - 3 September
CauseArson[1][2][3]
Deaths3
Non-fatal injuries20+
Map of the areas affected by fire in Achaia and Rhodes
Map of the areas affected in Euboea and Attica

The 2021 Greece wildfires are multiple wildfires burning in Greece since early August 2021, which have killed 3 people,[4][5] injured at least 20 others and burned dozens of homes, after a historic heatwave for the country with the highest temperatures, reaching 47.1 °C (116.8 °F). Authorities have evacuated several villages and towns. According to BBC News, Greece is experiencing the worst heatwave since 1987.[6][7] These fires are the worst fires in Greece since the 2007 Greek forest fires which burnt more than double the area (270,000 hectares) of the 2021 fires (125,000 hectares).

The largest wildfires are in Attica, Olympia, Messenia, and the most destructive in northern Euboea[8][9][10][11] from which ferries have evacuated about 2000 people.[6] 125,000 hectares of forest and arable land has been burnt so far (the worst fire season since 2007), with over 50,000 hectares burnt in northern Euboea alone.[6][12] The World Meteorological Organization connected the fires with the regional heatwave and wildfire season made worse by climate change.[13][14]

A fire had also broken out in the island of Rhodes a few days before the mass outbreak and resulted in a mass evacuation as well as leaving many people without power or water. Although many farms were destroyed, there were no casualties or burned homes[15]. Several wildfires were also reported in multiple parts of the island of Crete.

Investigation of causes[]

As of the 8th August, 5 people have been arrested for arson in the respective areas of Perama, Kalamata, Messenia, Petroupoli and Philopappou.[16] On the 9th August, the prosecutor of Greece's Supreme Court, Vassilios I. Pliotas, called for an investigation into a possible organized arson plot on the part of a “deliberate organized criminal activity” that may have been behind the fires which torched several regions of Greece.[17] As of the 9th of August, police has arrested 19 people in different places in Greece for attempted arson.[18] As of the 10th of August, 3 suspected arsonists have been remanded in custody:[19] two Greek men, one for an arson at Petroupoli and the other for an arson at Kryoneri and an Afghan woman for an arson at the Pedion tou Areos.[20] As of the 12th of August, the number of arrests made by Hellenic Police for arson and negligence causing these wildfires had increased to 118.[21] Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said the special prosecutor was “already cooperating closely and regularly” with the fire department and the police “for the in-depth investigation of the causes of all the large fires which have broken out this year.” Commenting on another fire that had started south of Athens, the minister added, “And all this because, according to witnesses, the fire was due to the use of a flare by one or more” people.[22]

In mid August, a 14 year old boy was arrested by police after they had tracked his movements through video footage. He confessed to police of starting 9 devastating fires in the Phthiotis region, however police suspect him of starting a total of 14. He travelled from location to location starting these fires on his bicycle from the 5th August to the 17th August.[23]

In 2007, the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report said that "Warmer, drier conditions will lead to more frequent and prolonged droughts, as well as to a longer fire season and increased fire risk, particularly in the Mediterranean region."[24] The fires were some of several extreme weather events around the world in 2021.

Reactions[]

The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis lamented the situation, underlining that Greece's priority is that of saving lives[6] and attributed the fires to the climate change.[25] Mitsotakis also apologized on Monday, 9 August, “for any weaknesses” in containing the massive wildfires that have destroyed swathes of forest land and forced hundreds of people to evacuate numerous settlements over the past week.[26]

The Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, stated: “The resignations of all the government officials are in the Prime Minister's drawer. Mine is at the very top of the drawer. [...] The state apparatus did what was humanly possible. But, of course, we are not satisfied with such a catastrophe. The Prime Minister is shocked. We all need to apologize to the people who lost their lives and we will evaluate if we could have done something different.”[27]

The World Meteorological Organization highlighted the Greek wildfires in its press release response to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group I report, noting the wildfires as an example of the extreme weather being caused by climate change.[13]

International assistance[]

The following countries offered assistance:

The following International Organizations offered assistance:

See also[]

References[]

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  2. ^ "Three arsonists responsible for devastating fires in Greece arrested on Friday". Greek City Times. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Greek Prosecutor Calls for Investigation into Organized Arson Plot". Greek Reporter. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Φωτιά στη Φωκίδα: Μπουλντόζα έπεσε σε γκρεμό - Νεκρός ο χειριστής". CNN.gr (in Greek). 9 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Νεκρός από τη φωτιά της Βαρυμπόμπης". www.zougla.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 12 September 2021.
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  7. ^ "Grecia: nuovo incendio vicino Atene, ancora fiamme ad Evia". ansa.it. ansa.it. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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  9. ^ "Forest fire in Greece threatens Olympics birthplace". Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Thousands more flee fires in Greece amid heat wave". Associated Press. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Greece fires: 150 houses destroyed by wildfires as monks refuse to leave stricken island". TheGuardian.com. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  12. ^ Newsroom. "Over 100,000 hectares burnt in two weeks | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b "WMO: New climate report is a clarion call for urgent action". World Meteorological Organization. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
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  16. ^ "Five arrests for arson attempts (Original: Πέντε συλλήψεις για απόπειρα εμπρησμού)". Kathimerini (in Greek). Retrieved 20 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  21. ^ Μπαντής, Βασίλης (11 August 2021). "Φωτιές: Εθελοντής έβαζε φωτιές για να τις σβήνει ο ίδιος - Δεκαοχτώ συλλήψεις για εμπρησμούς". Retrieved 17 August 2021.
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  28. ^ "MYTILINEOS brings from Australia 4 Ericson Firefighting Helicopters along with their staff (Original: Η MYTILINEOS φέρνει από την Αυστραλία 4 πυροσβεστικά ελικόπτερα Ericson με το προσωπικό τους)". Hellas Journal. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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