2018 Attica wildfires
The two main fire fronts in Attica on 23 July 2018
LocationAttica
Coordinates38°03′09″N 23°52′06″E / 38.05250°N 23.86833°E / 38.05250; 23.86833
Statistics
Date(s)23 July 2018 – 26 July 2018
CauseHuman negligence
Buildings destroyedmore than 4,000 (destroyed or damaged)[1]
Deaths104[2]
Non-fatal injuries172[3]
Map
Attica wildfires in Greece
Attica wildfires in Greece

A series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave, began in the coastal areas of Attica in July 2018.[4] 104 people were confirmed dead from the Mati fires.[2] The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire event in the 21st century, after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia that killed 173.

Over 700 residents were evacuated or rescued, mainly from the seaside settlements located north of the port town of Rafina, namely Kokkino Limanaki and Mati, where rescuers found 26 corpses trapped just meters away from the sea,[5][6] apparently hugging each other as they died.[7] Boats also recovered corpses from the water, and rescued hundreds of people from beaches and the sea. Two people drowned when the boat rescuing them from a hotel in Mati capsized.[8] Μore than 4,000 residents were affected by the wildfires.[9] The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras declared a state of emergency in Attica,[7] and announced a three-day period of national mourning, stating in a televised address, "The country is going through an unspeakable tragedy".[10]

After the fires, flags atop the Acropolis and the Greek parliament flew at half mast.[11] The European flags at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels also flew at half mast in honour of the victims.[12] Many countries worldwide helped or offered aid to Greece.[7] A 65-year-old man from Penteli has been arrested for causing the fire through negligence, by burning wood in his garden.[13][14]

Fires

The image shows the fire in Kineta and its aftermath.
The fire in Kineta and its aftermath
The image shows the fire in Neos Voutzas and Mati and its aftermath.
The fire in Mati and its aftermath

On 23 July 2018 at 13:00 Eastern European Time, a wildfire started west of Athens near Kineta. A few hours later, a second wildfire started burning at the north of Athens near Penteli.[15] Due to very strong wind gusts in the area both wildfires spread quickly which were up to 124 km/h, 77 mph, 12 Beaufort.[16] The fire in Kineta burned houses in the area, while the fire in Penteli headed east towards the beach, where it started burning parts of Neos Voutzas, Mati and Kokkino Limanaki just north of the town of Rafina and as far as its northern fringes.

Impact

The flames were so intense that they trapped and burned people inside their houses, cars, or a few meters away from the beach. Thousands of vehicles and houses were destroyed before the fire was brought under control hours later.[17] An entire summer camp with 620 children was evacuated in an overnight operation.[18] Many animals, wild and domestic, died or were injured.[19]

The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire event to have occurred worldwide since 2001, after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia that killed 173. In addition, the wildfires were also the sixth-deadliest to have occurred in the one-hundred years prior to the event. Only the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, the Black Dragon Fire of 1987, the Indonesian forest fires of 1997, the Cloquet Fire of 1918, and the Kursha-2 Fire of 1936 had a higher death toll.[20][21]

Casualties and damage

As of October 2022, 104 people were confirmed dead; the dead were identified as 50 women, 43 men, and 11 children (one infant).[22][23][24][25][2] The youngest was 6 months and the oldest 93 years old.[22] The dead were 98 Greek, two Polish, one Irish, one Belgian, one Georgian nationals and one unidentified.[22][26][2] The last victim died in October 2022, from health problems due to the fire.[2]

At least 164 adults and 23 children were taken to hospital with injuries, including 11 adults in serious condition. It was also reported that at least 15 of the injured later died in the hospital.[26]

Thousands of vehicles, 4,000 homes, and 40,000 pine and olive trees were burned; the fire destroyed Mati and nearby Kokkino Limanaki.[1][27][28] About 400 people waded deep into the sea and waited hours to be rescued. Temperatures reached 800 °C, fanned by gale-force winds.

Cause

On 26 July 2018, the Mayor of Penteli, Dimitris Stergiou, claimed that the deadly fire that hit Mati in eastern Attica began from a damaged cable at a utility pole.[29] In a press conference held on 26 July, Nikos Toskas, the Alternate Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, said that there are strong indications of arson, for the fires both in Kineta and Penteli.[30] The defence minister Panos Kammenos said illegal constructions had exacerbated the situation.[31]

The arson investigation department of the Hellenic Fire Service dismissed the arson theory on 27 July, stating the fire was probably started due to wood being burnt in Daou, Penteli. Kathimerini said the suspect's name was already known.[32] A video obtained from a home security camera by the newspaper, showed that a fire started in a clearing near houses in Daou at 4:41 p.m. and quickly spread due to the wind.[33]

A 65-year old resident of the area was charged with multiple manslaughter, causing criminal harm through negligence and negligent arson. He is suspected of causing the fire after burning wood in his garden.[14][34]

Reconstruction plans

Rafina, Mati and Neos Voutzas in August 2018.
Rafina, Mati and Neos Voutzas in August 2018

The Mayor of Athens Giorgios Kaminis was in constant communication with the local authorities of the municipalities affected by the wildfires. The City of Athens commissioned a study to research and proposed an actionable and resilient reforestation plan, as well as collect funding through the Athens Partnership for those impacted.[35]

During reconstruction and rescue around the wildfires Greek citizens, businesses and organizations banded together to aid one another. Businesses handed out free food and water to victims and first responders, organizations such as the Hellenic Center for Disease Prevention and Control launched donation drives, and citizens opened their homes for those impacted, both independently and through Airbnb.[36]

Aftermath

In March 2019 a report was produced detailing many mistakes made by the authorities: mismanagement by police and fire services, and a lack of coordination between rescue agencies, had caused "chaos and a collapse of the system... criminal mistakes and omissions".[1] During the wildfire of Mati, several prominent Greek news outlets did not cover the incident as an environmental issue, but rather a political event.[37]

The Prime Minister visited Mati weeks after the fire, and promised to create a "model town" within a year. However, after a year, the town was not yet rebuilt and the land remained scorched. Home owners had by then received compensation of up to €6,000, but there were significant difficulties in getting permission to carry out repair work. Several residents started private court cases against the government.[1]

In August 2021 similar wildfires struck large parts of Greece and Turkey, following a period of exceptionally high temperatures of up to 47 °C, albeit a general absence of strong or even medium winds.[38]

International assistance

Greece appealed for help from other countries to help tackle the fires and deal with the emergency situation by submitting a request through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism for international assistance with air and land assets.[39] European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management arrived in Athens on 24 July to coordinate the EU assistance being provided to Greece through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, helped mobilize planes, vehicles, medical personnel and firefighters from the EU countries. The EU's Copernicus satellite system has also been activated to provide the authorities with highly specialized maps.[40] The Greek minister Nikos Toskas said never before have there been so many offers to assist firefighting efforts, lauding the solidarity other countries have shown.[41]

The following countries responded:

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2018 fires in Greece.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Helena (20 July 2019). "'In my nightmares I'm always in the sea': a year on from the Greek fires". The Guardian. Survivors describe the 2018 fires in Mati
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Μάτι: Κατέληξε άλλη μία εγκαυματίας - 104 τα θύματα από τη φονική πυρκαγιά". protothema.gr. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ενημέρωση για τις δασικές πυρκαγιές της 26/07/2018 - Δελτία Τύπου - Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα Ελλάδος". www.fireservice.gr.
  4. ↑ "Greece wildfires: 'At least 60' killed near Athens as residents and tourists forced to flee into the sea". The Telegraph. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Συγκλονιστικές εικόνες από το οικόπεδο στο Μάτι, όπου βρήκαν τραγικό θάνατο 26 άνθρωποι". real.gr. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "In Greece, Wildfires Kill Dozens, Driving Some Into the Sea". The New York Times. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Greece wildfires: Dozens dead in Attica region". BBC. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Two Poles drown trying to escape fire". ekathimerini.com. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Στις 4.076 οι αιτήσεις πυρόπληκτων για το επίδομα".
  10. ↑ "Greece wildfires – LIVE: Death toll rises to 60 amid huge blazes outside Athens". The Independent. 24 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Wildfires kill at least 74 in Greece's 'Pompeii'". Reuters. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "European Commission flags lowered to half-mast in honor of Greek wildfires victims". ekathimerini. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "20 Charged over Mati Wildfires That Killed 100 People - Greek City Times". 6 March 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Greek senior officials charged over deadly wildfires in Mati". BBC News. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  15. ↑ "Greece fire map: Where are the forest fires in Greece?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "NOA wind maps 23 July 2018". 23 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Black day for Attica". 23 July 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  18. ↑ "Greece fires: 620 children EVACUATED near Athens as HUGE blaze raged across the country". 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Greek Vet Clinic Inundated With Injured Pets After Fires". 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  20. ↑ Masters, Jeff. "5th Deadliest Wildfire Globally in Past 100 Years: 87 Dead from Monday's Greek Fires". Weather Underground. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Η δεύτερη πιο φονική πυρκαγιά στον 21ο αιώνα παγκοσμίως". 25 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  22. 1 2 3 "Φωτιά στο Μάτι: Αυτή είναι η λίστα των νεκρών". protothema. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "100 οι νεκροί στο Μάτι : Υπέκυψε ένας 73χρονος εγκαυματίας". in.gr. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "Φωτιά στο Μάτι: Στους 95 οι νεκροί - Πέθανε 63χρονος στο ΚΑΤ". protothema. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Φωτιά στο Μάτι: Στους 96 οι νεκροί - Πέθανε 68χρονος στο ΚΑΤ". protothema. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  26. 1 2 "102 πλέον οι νεκροί σε Ραφήνα και Μάτι". mati2307.gr. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "Wildfires kill dozens on Greek coast". BBC News. 24 July 2018.
  28. ↑ Georgiopoulos, George; Kambas, Michele (25 July 2018). "'I'm looking for my mum', says young woman as number of dead from Greek fire rises". Reuters.
  29. ↑ "Mayor of Penteli: The fire begun from a power cable". 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  30. ↑ "Φωτιά: Live Τόσκας: Έχουμε σοβαρές ενδείξεις για εγκληματικές ενέργειες που αφορούν εμπρησμό". 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  31. ↑ "Greek fires: Residents 'worsened disaster' by illegal building". BBC News. 26 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "Greek firefighters join public outcry at 'woeful' response to lethal wildfires". TheGuardian.com. 28 July 2018.
  33. ↑ Souliotis, Yiannis (21 August 2021). "Video footage shows minutes Mati fire broke out". Ekathimerini.
  34. ↑ "20 Charged over Mati Wildfires That Killed 100 People - Greek City Times". 6 March 2019.
  35. ↑ "Support reconstruction efforts after Attica wildfires". ATHENS PARTNERSHIP. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  36. ↑ "Solidarity Reigns Among Greeks After Tragic Fires in Attica - The Pappas Post". The Pappas Post. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  37. ↑ Karyotakis, Minos-Athanasios (2021). "Covering the Wildfire of Mati in Greece: Undermining the Systemic Human Impact on the Environment". Journalism Practice. 16 (2–3): 425–442. doi:10.1080/17512786.2021.1969986. S2CID 239652362.
  38. ↑ Smith, Helena (8 August 2021). "'Apocalyptic' scenes hit Greece as Athens besieged by fire". The Guardian.
  39. ↑ "Greece seeks help from European allies to tackle raging fires". U.S. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  40. 1 2 3 4 "EU mobilises further support against devastating fires in Greece". The Sofia Globe. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  41. ↑ "The Latest: Desperate Greeks Search for Missing After Fires". 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  42. ↑ "Wildfires, Albanian Government Offers EUR 100.000 to Greece". Albanian Daily News. 25 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  43. ↑ "Australia to help Greece in wildfires aftermath". SBS News. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ποιες χώρες ανταποκρίθηκαν στις εκκλήσεις της Ελλάδας για βοήθεια". naftemporiki. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  45. ↑ "Armenia ready to provide wildfire emergency assistance to Greece if requested". Armenpress. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  46. ↑ "The Latest: Desperate Greeks search for missing after fires". AP News. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sharman, Jon (25 July 2018). "Greece wildfires latest: European countries send fire-fighting planes amid desperate attempts to stop deadly blazes spreading". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  48. ↑ "Οικονομική βοήθεια ύψους 10 εκ. ευρώ προς Ελλάδα από Κύπρο". Sigma Live. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  49. ↑ "Israel offers aid to Greece as wildfires rage near Athens". Jpost Inc. Jpost Inc. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  50. ↑ "Israel offers Greece help in battling deadly wild fires". Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  51. ↑ "2 Italy Canadairs to leave for Greece". ansa.it. ansa.it. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  52. ↑ "The Latest: Desperate Greeks search for missing after fires". APNews. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  53. ↑ "Greece wildfires: Polish president extends condolences". Poland In English. 25 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  54. ↑ "Portugal disponibilizou-se a ajudar no combate a incêndios na Grécia" (in Portuguese). Observador. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  55. ↑ "Porţile Infernului s-au deschis lângă Atena: incendiile au ucis cel puţin 74 de oameni". Adevărul. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "Putin offers Greece help in combating wildfires". TASS. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  57. ↑ "Κύπρος και Ισπανία συνδράμουν την Ελλάδα - Έτοιμες να βοηθήσουν Τουρκία, Βουλγαρία, Σερβία, Ρωσία και Ισραήλ". www.liberal.gr. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  58. ↑ "The Latest: Greece says Italian planes helping firefight". AP News. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  59. ↑ "Φωτιά στην Αττική: Αμερικάνικα Drones συλλέγουν πληροφορίες". Army Voice. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.