The forest fires in Greece continue unabated. According to the Greek weather service, the smoke from the massive fires in the Dadia National Park in the northeast of the country traveled more than 950 kilometers to the islands in the Ionian Sea on Tuesday. It covered an area of about 110,000 square kilometers, equivalent to about 80 percent of the Greek territory. Air quality has deteriorated enormously in large parts of the country in recent days and particulate matter pollution is extremely high. Tourists feel that too.
For the fifth day in a row, the country continues to struggle with massive forest fires. The problem affects almost the entire country, Nikos Michalopoulos, a scientist at the National Observatory of Athens, told Kathimerini newspaper.
Numerous evacuations
Due to the approaching flames and heavy smoke, numerous villages and settlements near large fires in Greece were evacuated on Wednesday as a precaution. Evacuations took place in the northwest of the capital Athens, but also in the northeast of the country in the region of the city of Komotini.
Heavy smoke makes it difficult for the elderly
In addition to villages, a refugee camp and three retirement homes north of Athens were also evacuated, Skai reports. In addition to the strong smoke, which makes it difficult for the elderly, there is also a particularly high risk because of the oxygen bottles that the retirement homes have ready to ventilate sick residents, the report said. In addition to the old people’s homes and the refugee camp, a nearby police academy was also evacuated, a police union spokesperson told Greek Radio (ERT).
“It’s one of the most impressive smoke transports we’ve seen in recent years,” said Kostas Lagouvardos, director of the Athens National Observatory. The Greek Association of Pneumologists advises citizens to stay indoors as much as possible and to keep windows and doors closed.
Worry about respiratory disease
Specifically, values of 106 micrograms of particulate matter in the size category PM2.5 (diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) per cubic meter of air were measured in the city of Alexandroupolis, which was almost surrounded by fire, on Tuesday. It is precisely such small particles that are considered harmful and cause strokes, cancer and respiratory diseases. They can sometimes penetrate the alveoli and bloodstream.
Authorities suspect arson to be the cause
In total, there are at least fifteen major or larger fronts in Greece. Authorities suspect arson to be the cause of the numerous large catastrophic fires in the Evros River (where the bodies of 19 migrants were discovered). The Greek News Service (EYP) is also participating in the investigation, the Greek press reported.
Source: Krone
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