Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will chair a task force meeting at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection scheduled for 6 pm in the wake of the devastating Athens fires that are still burning and have reportedly burnt roughly 25 acres of land as well as hundreds of local businesses and residences. A woman was also reportedly killed in the fire in the suburb of Chalandri.
The Greek Premier has borne the brunt of the citizens’ ire impacted by the fires burning since Sunday, with many complaining the state apparatus failed to protect their businesses and houses citing a shortage of firefighting means.
At the same time, special units of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection have been conducting on-site assessments in buildings damaged by the Athens fires since yesterday, Monday.
Today, they have started damage assessments in areas of the municipalities of Marathon, Penteli, Pallini, and Rafina-Pikermi, in collaboration and coordination with the local authorities.
According to Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias, 45 settlements were evacuated. “There is no active front 40 hours after the fire started, but scattered hotspots,” emphasized Minister Vassilis Kikilias earlier on Tuesday, referring to the fire in Attica.
Kikilias highlighted that the new doctrine allowing the use of drones faced significant challenges given the conditions during the wildfire in Northeastern Attica, while firefighting forces made superhuman efforts.
A total of 702 firefighters, 27 forest firefighting teams, 199 vehicles, and 35 aerial assets (17 aircraft and 18 helicopters, three of which are for coordination) participated.
Volunteers, police, military personnel, forest wardens, and forestry workers, along with the Attica Region, municipalities, and assistance from emergency number 112, evacuated and rescued 45 areas.
While the winds have abated compared to Monday (August 12th), firefighters are still faced with flare-us and active fire fronts scattered across the areas of Varnava, Marathon, Nea Makri, Ano Souli, and Penteli.
