The devastating fires that broke out in Greece and Turkey are beginning to recede

The battle against the fires that for six consecutive days have destroyed thousands of hectares and displaced thousands of people in Turkey and Greece is improving this Sunday on almost all fronts, Except for the Greek island of Euboea, Instead of evacuating, residents are asking for more means to fight the children devouring their homes. Turkish officials have reported that they have brought under control 217 of the 223 reported fires since the middle of last week.

In Grevia, although the authorities have not yet officially put them under control, the extinction efforts have been I managed to reduce some of the worst lights significantly, such as those in the northern suburbs of Athens, Elis, in the Peloponnese, and Phosios, in the center of the country.

The flames gave way to devastating photosWith countless homes reduced to ashes, the official balance of disaster will begin tomorrow, industrial and commercial buildings, and thousands of hectares of forest, including one of the last green lungs of the capital.

In Athens, firefighters announced this morning that There are only a few small outbreaks that reappear sporadically A drop in wind strength today is expected to allow full control of the situation. while, About 500 police officers are patrolling the affected areas, parks and hills in the area to prevent new fires from breaking out.

However, the nightmare continues on Euboea, Greece’s second largest island, with more residents evacuated overnight, leaving nearly 50 people deserted in flames in recent days.

Yannis Kotzias, Mayor of Estia, a city in northern Euboea that has been approaching with flames since yesterday and from which many of the evacuees of the smaller population have been moved. Complained to the local media It was abandoned by the state and asserted that it was the residents who practically did not comply with the evacuation orders that had so far saved the area from burning.

The Greek government expressed its appreciation for the solidarity it received from abroad. Spain sent an amphibious plane, Cyprus 2 planes and 40 firefighters, France 3 Canadian planes and 83 firefighters, Croatia 1 plane, Sweden 2 planes, Switzerland three helicopters, Egypt 2 helicopters, Romania 108 firefighters and 21 vehicles, Ukraine 100 ground personnel and Israel 16 firefighters.

In addition, the Deputy Minister for Citizens Protection, Nikos Gardalias, announced last night that another 100 soldiers and 30 French vehicles, an infantry division of 216 personnel and 41 vehicles from Germany, 143 firefighters and 46 Polish vehicles, 72 are still expected to arrive. Individuals, 25 Slovak vehicles, 43 firefighters, 11 Austrian vehicles, 35 people, 14 Czech vehicles, 21 British firefighters, 69 people, 5 vehicles from Qatar and 42 firefighters from Kuwait.

Turkey controls 217 fires and the fighting continues 6

Turkish authorities It already contained 217 forest fires spread across the country, while others Six are still out of control, Of about 223 that were announced mid last week.

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Bekir Pakdemirli, explained that most of the fires were contained thanks to the efforts of the Turkish fire brigades, although the fires continued to destroy the soils of Koycegiz, Kavaklidere, Milas Yatagan and Cinema. Anadolu News Agency.

One of the points of most concern is the Mugla region, where extinction efforts are focused, in particular, on a thermal power plant and tourist areas, where as many as 15 fires have been declared.

“We were Fighting fires with 16 aircraft, nine drones, 57 helicopters, unmanned helicopters, 850 ships and tankers, 150 engineering vehicles, along with 5,250 forest personnel.Backdemirli added.

For his part, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced. Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Corum. The Minister of Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu, visited the areas most affected by the fires.

Later, these same leaders held a special meeting with various representatives from the fire-affected areas in order to find out their most urgent needs.

Estimated that at least 107 houses damaged by fires in AlanyaIn the southern province of Antalya, the mayor, Adem Murat Yucel, explained in a statement.

Along these lines, the governor of Bodrum District, Bekir Yilmaz, in the southwestern province of Mugla, stated that An initial aid of about 35,000 Turkish liras, which is equivalent to approximately 4,120 US dollars, for each family of citizens affected by the fire.

At the moment it is estimated that they have At least eight people were killedAccording to official figures, since the fires broke out in southern and southwestern Turkey on July 28.

Turkey is going through an almost unprecedented wave of fires: compared to an average of 17,578 hectares burned between January 1 and August 5 in the years 2008 to 2020, this year’s volume is nine times the average, with 157,482 hectares razed.According to the data of the Istanbul Forestry Institute, compiled by the Hurriyet newspaper.

(With information from EFE and EP)

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