Greek PM warns of dangerous wildfires in summer
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A firefighting helicopter flying over a firefighter and volunteers battling a wildfire in Keratea, Greece, on June 30.
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ATHENS – Greece is facing a dangerous summer for wildfires, with a prolonged drought and unusually strong winds contributing to tinderbox conditions, said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on July 1.
Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country, but hotter, drier and windier weather that scientists link to the effects of climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of such fires.
At the weekend, dozens of fires broke out across Greece
Mr Mitsotakis, addressing his Cabinet, said: “It is a summer which is expected to be particularly dangerous... the most difficult times are still ahead of us.
“We had a very difficult June in terms of weather conditions with high drought and unusually high gusts of wind for the season.”
He praised firefighters for managing to contain the weekend fires.
Mr Mitsotakis said less than 100,000 sq m of land was burned in the two fires near Athens, and that the damage was contained due to the response by the state emergency authorities.
Greece has scaled up its preparations in 2024 by hiring more staff and increasing training, after forest fires in 2023 forced 19,000 people to flee the island of Rhodes and killed 20 in the north of the country.
“Our arsenal might be stronger, but nothing – and that is seen in practice – beats being prepared, and for the public to also be involved in this collective defence against natural hazards,” Mr Mitsotakis said. REUTERS
