Greece wins over wildfires, faces criticism of climate change | Voice of America

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ATHENS – A massive forest fire has hit Greece for more than a week. The government has come under heavy criticism for ignoring warnings of forest fires amid a prolonged heat wave affecting not only Greece, but the Balkans and southern Europe.

Some of the more than 600 forest fires that have broken out in Greece have been brought under control. But fresh stones have erupted on the island of Evia and in the Peloponnese, adding to the 62 evacuation orders issued last week across the country.

Several mayors criticized the lack of air support in the fight against the fires, despite assurances from the government earlier this year that it had set aside sufficient resources. But even before the fires started, environmental experts had warned of the looming danger

These experts, including Costas Synolakis, professor of natural risk management, say the government in Athens has yet to grasp the extent of the threat of climate change.

I think politicians are just not prepared for the scale of the devastation. Politicians must start to understand that if we don’t act, this is the new normal and maybe it is already too late, ”Synolakis said. What we need to do is stabilize the climate so that we don’t see anything worse than what we are seeing now.

The warning follows a nationwide televised address by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“The destruction in Evia and elsewhere blackens everyone’s hearts. And first of all, I apologize for any failure shown by the state in its response,” Mitsotakis said.

Mitsotakis pledged more than $ 500 million to fund reconstruction, reforestation and compensation and said special inquiries would be put in place to determine what was wrong and who should be held accountable.

Greece is not alone. It is suffering from the worst heat wave since 1987. Heat and drought, both linked to climate change, are fueling fires across Europe, from Turkey and Italy to Russian Siberia.

Greece has struggled to contain the hundreds of forest fires that turned pristine pine forests to ash and forced around 60,000 people to flee. The government has said its top priority is to save and protect lives.

More than 49,000 hectares have burned down in Euboea alone, according to European Union data. Hundreds of firefighters, among them soldiers, mountain guards and volunteers from all over Greece, Europeans and the United States are fighting fires and monitoring outbreaks.

At least three people suspected of arson have been arrested, but no charges have yet been laid.

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