27 REFUGGES KILLED IN WILDFIRES IN

GREECE

Devastating bushfires in Greece

September 2023 Devastating fires are still raging in all parts of Greece, claiming tens of human lives destroying vast forest areas. Firefighters are fighting the flames on the island of Andros, while strong winds of up to seven Beaufort are blowing on the island. The residents of the Yides area received a message from 112 to evacuate the area and move towards the Port of Gavrio. It was reported that the fires appear to have been sparked by lightning that struck the island on Saturday morning. The two fires in Andros broke out in the areas of Vitali and near the monastery of Life Giving Fountain. The Fire Brigade is reinforced from Syros and Tinos and according to officials, 21 firefighters with 7 vehicles, 1 helicopter and 2 aircraft are operating in the area. According to the local media enandro.gr, flare-ups are frequent around Agia, while describing the situation as difficult. In the meantime, the fire brigade brought under partial control the fires that broke out yesterday morning in Vari, Voula, Koropi and Grammatiko Attica after a lightning strike. Also under the fire that broke out earlier in the Kampia area of Chios was yesterday under partial control. The battle continues with flare-ups on the fire fronts in Parnitha, Evros and Viotia. According to the Fire Department, in Parnitha there are scattered active outbreaks on its southwest side, in the Fort of the Tribe. A total of 260 firefighters are operating. In Evros the most active front is located in the wider area of Leptokarya Evros towards Aisymi. In Dadia, in the southern part, the fire has been contained, according to the Fire Service. In Rodopi, the fire brigade is dealing with scattered outbreaks. Across Greece, wildfires have burned through 1.3 billion square meters (130,000 hectares) so far, an EU record, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. TENS OF REFUGEES KILLED IN FIRES Twenty seven refugees, were found dead in Greece’s Dadia Forest in Evros near the Greek Turkish border. The charred remains of the 27 people were recovered Tuesday near a shack close to a national park in Alexandroupolis, a city in Greece’s Evros region. Evros, which shares a land border with Turkey, is seen as a “no man’s land,” where bodies of migrants trying to cross into the European Union are found every year.

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia