Athens: a big fire that has destroyed pine forests and burned houses in the northwest of Greece’s capital seemed somewhat subsided Friday, although hundreds of firefighters were still working to completely contain flames.
API near Vilia Village, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) from Athens, broke on Monday, one of hundreds of fires that had been burned throughout Greece this month.
On Friday morning, 461 firefighters, including 143 from Poland, 166 vehicles, four aircraft dropped water and four helicopters fought with fire, the fire department said.
Michalis residential minister Chrisochoidis said on Thursday night that “the biggest part” of the fire was contained, but the fire was still uncontrollable.
Firefighters have faced very difficult conditions, including lack of access to heavy forests, high temperatures, dry conditions, and wind constantly changed, he said.
Greek forest fires came after the country’s worst heat wave in about three decades that left the bush and a dry forest.
The cause of all fires has not been officially established, although more than a dozen people have been arrested for being suspected of burning.
Blazes has stretched the ability of Greece firefighters to limits, leading the government to appeal on international assistance, including through the EU emergency response system.
About 24 European and Middle East countries responded, sending aircraft, helicopters, vehicles and hundreds of firefighters.
On Thursday, Chrisochoidis said Romania had offered to send firefighters by vehicle once more, after more than 100 operating in Greece earlier this month returned home.
Greece has accepted the offer “with gratitude,” Minister said.
He did not determine how many Romanian firefighters would be involved or when they would arrive.
Heat and intense forest fires have also reduced other Mediterranean countries.
The recent forest fires have killed at least 75 people in Algeria and 16 in Turkey, while in South France 1,200 firefighters have struggled to contain large flames that have forced thousands to escape, killing two people and injured 26.
Drought Heavy heat also triggered.
Wildfires in the Western United States and in the North Siberian region of Russia.
Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from coal combustion, oil and natural gas encourage more extreme events.