Between extreme temperatures and fires, Greece suffocated
A firefighter in the blaze in Varympompi, in the northern suburbs of Athens, August 3, 2021. REUTERS - GIORGOS MOUTAFIS
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5 mins
Greece is hit by a third heat wave in a month, with temperatures soaring this week to 45 degrees in parts of the country.
The authorities speak of the worst heat wave the country has experienced in thirty years.
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With our correspondent in Athens,
Joël Bronner
In Greece, especially in the middle of the day,
the heat is stifling if not overwhelming
.
Harris Diakomihalis is the head of a tourism agency on the island of Nissiros, in the east of the country.
“
In recent days, we have experienced extreme temperatures, that is to say, it is particularly hot and this causes us problems to work under normal conditions.
"
Irini Paxou enjoys her evening at the restaurant, but during the day she pays particular attention to the weather, as she is in charge of two small children.
“
At the times when the temperatures are the highest, we stay at home with the air conditioning, because it is too hot.
And we also try to go to the beach afterwards to cool off.
"
Popi Karakonstandinou is working this summer in a car rental shop in the port of Mandraki, the main town of Nissiros.
“
In Nissiros, the heatwave is still more or less bearable thanks to the light wind blowing here fortunately.
But there are other places, like Rhodes or Athens, where people are facing a lot of problems, because of this same heat wave that causes fires.
"
Localities surrounded by flames
If fires are common every summer in Greece, the intensity of the current heatwave has indeed encouraged their increase in recent days, across the country.
New forest fires broke out on Tuesday, especially north of Athens, where some 300 people were evacuated according to firefighters.
After Mount Penteli last week, it was Mount Parnes, the second of the three hills that border Athens, that was on fire, spreading thick smoke over the Greek capital.
As the fires approached homes, three villages were evacuated at the foot of Mount Parnes, about thirty kilometers northwest of Athens, according to firefighters.
"
Our priority is to save lives, hence the decision to evacuate villages,
" said Tuesday evening, at a press conference, the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chryssohoidis, referring to difficult conditions.
"
It is a tragedy
", entrusted on the television channel Skai Spyros Vrettos, the mayor of the capital, Acharnon.
“
Fortunately, no one's life is in danger.
"
The highway connecting the north to the south of the country was cut as a precaution and dozens of children were evacuated from a summer camp, according to Greek media.
Nearly 200 horses that were in riding centers were also moved unharmed, according to the Greek Riding Confederation.
Police said they had helped nearly 70 people who were stranded in their homes in communities surrounded by flames.
Greece was faced with nearly 80 fires on Tuesday, 40 of which are still active, according to Deputy Minister for Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias.
"
We are facing extreme conditions with temperatures around 45 ° C in Attica,
" added the minister, during the same press conference.
“
The coming hours are decisive.
The heatwave will continue, we ask citizens to be vigilant,
”he concluded.
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