The Greek island of Chios is grappling with a dire situation as multiple wildfires rage, prompting the evacuation of residents and an arson investigation into the blaze's origins.
Out of Control: Wildfires Sweep Through Greece's Chios Island
Out of Control: Wildfires Sweep Through Greece's Chios Island
A state of emergency has been declared on Chios as multiple wildfires threaten homes and natural habitats.
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Wildfires are wreaking havoc on the Greek island of Chios, leading to a state of emergency being declared as five separate fires continue to blaze, exacerbated by strong winds. The recent uptick in the number of wildfires has led to the evacuation of residents from 17 communities, and an investigation into the suspected arson is currently underway.
The fires began on Sunday in the areas of Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios, with two additional blazes igniting in Agios Markos early Monday morning and in Agiasmata shortly thereafter. Local media are reporting substantial destruction, including damage to multiple homes, crops, and key infrastructure on the island.
With temperatures anticipated to rise to about 30 degrees Celsius and higher later this week, conditions remain precarious. Approximately 190 firefighters are currently battling the flames, supported by 11 aircraft and helicopters, with a further 90 firefighters set to be dispatched from Athens and Thessaloniki.
Residents are actively contributing to firefighting efforts by using buckets of water and clothing to suppress smaller flames. However, ongoing local reports note that many people cannot yet return to their homes to assess the destruction, with particular panic surrounding a distillery that has suffered damage.
In response to the critical situation, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis has visited Chios. Following an emergency meeting, he expressed deep concern over the unusual outbreak of fires, highlighting the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause.
Infrastructure struggles continue, with the local power grid being affected by the fires, resulting in outages for the Vrontados community. Repair teams, dispatched from the neighboring island of Lesvos, are striving to restore services, and controlled power cuts have been instituted to aid firefighting efforts.
This wildfire event marks the first major incident of the summer for Greece, a country that has experienced its share of devastating wildfires amid extreme weather conditions in recent years. Notably, a significant wildfire in 2012 devastated Chios, destroying over half of its mastic tree population, which is valued globally in culinary and medicinal applications.
Wildfires are wreaking havoc on the Greek island of Chios, leading to a state of emergency being declared as five separate fires continue to blaze, exacerbated by strong winds. The recent uptick in the number of wildfires has led to the evacuation of residents from 17 communities, and an investigation into the suspected arson is currently underway.
The fires began on Sunday in the areas of Kofinas, Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios, with two additional blazes igniting in Agios Markos early Monday morning and in Agiasmata shortly thereafter. Local media are reporting substantial destruction, including damage to multiple homes, crops, and key infrastructure on the island.
With temperatures anticipated to rise to about 30 degrees Celsius and higher later this week, conditions remain precarious. Approximately 190 firefighters are currently battling the flames, supported by 11 aircraft and helicopters, with a further 90 firefighters set to be dispatched from Athens and Thessaloniki.
Residents are actively contributing to firefighting efforts by using buckets of water and clothing to suppress smaller flames. However, ongoing local reports note that many people cannot yet return to their homes to assess the destruction, with particular panic surrounding a distillery that has suffered damage.
In response to the critical situation, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis has visited Chios. Following an emergency meeting, he expressed deep concern over the unusual outbreak of fires, highlighting the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause.
Infrastructure struggles continue, with the local power grid being affected by the fires, resulting in outages for the Vrontados community. Repair teams, dispatched from the neighboring island of Lesvos, are striving to restore services, and controlled power cuts have been instituted to aid firefighting efforts.
This wildfire event marks the first major incident of the summer for Greece, a country that has experienced its share of devastating wildfires amid extreme weather conditions in recent years. Notably, a significant wildfire in 2012 devastated Chios, destroying over half of its mastic tree population, which is valued globally in culinary and medicinal applications.
