2018 Attica wildfires

A series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave, began in the coastal areas of Attica in July 2018.[4] As of May 2019, 102 people were confirmed dead.[2] The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire event in the 21st century, after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia that killed 173.

2018 Attica wildfires
The two main fire fronts in Attica on 23 July 2018
LocationAttica
Coordinates38°03′09″N 23°52′06″E
Statistics
Date(s)23 July 2018 – 26 July 2018
CauseUnder investigation
Buildings destroyedmore than 1,000 (destroyed or damaged)[1]
Deaths102[2]
Non-fatal injuries172[3]
Map

Over 700 residents have been evacuated or rescued, mainly from the seaside settlements located north of the port town of Rafina, namely Kokkino Limanaki and Mati, where rescuers found 26 corpses trapped just metres away from the sea,[5][6] apparently hugging each other as they died.[1] Boats also recovered corpses from the water, and rescued hundreds of people from beaches and the sea. Ten people drowned when the boat rescuing them from a hotel in Mati capsized.[7] Μore than 4,000 residents were affected by the wildfires.[8]

Greece deployed its entire fleet of fire-fighting aircraft and more than 250 fire engines,[9] as well as over 600 firefighters.[10] The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras declared a state of emergency in Attica,[1] and announced a three-day period of national mourning, stating in a televised address, "The country is going through an unspeakable tragedy".[11]

After the fires, flags atop the Acropolis and the Greek parliament flew at half mast.[12] The European flags at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels also flew at half mast in honour of the victims.[13] Many countries worldwide helped or offered aid to Greece.[1] A 65-year old man from Penteli has been arrested for causing the fire through negligence, by burning wood in his garden.[14][15]

Fires
The fire in Kineta and its aftermath
The fire in Mati and its aftermath

On 23 July 2018 at 13:00 Eastern European Time, a wildfire started west of Athens near Kineta. A few hours later, a second wildfire started burning at the north of Athens near Penteli.[16] Due to very strong wind gusts in the area both wildfires spread quickly which were up to 124 km/h, 77 mph, 12 Beaufort.[17] The fire in Kineta burned houses in the area, while the fire in Penteli headed east towards the beach, where it started burning parts of Neos Voutzas, Mati and Kokkino Limanaki just north of the town of Rafina and as far as its northern fringes.

Impact

The flames were so intense that they trapped and burned people inside their houses, cars, or a few metres away from the beach. Thousands of vehicles and houses were destroyed before the fire was brought under control hours later.[18] An entire summer camp composed of 620 children was evacuated in an overnight operation.[19] Many animals (wild and domestic) died or were injured due to the fire.[20]

The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire event to have occurred worldwide since 2001, after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia that killed 180. In addition, the wildfires were also the sixth-deadliest to have occurred in the one-hundred years prior to the event. Only the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, the Black Dragon Fire of 1987, the Indonesian forest fires of 1997, the Cloquet Fire of 1918, and the Kursha-2 Fire of 1936 had a higher death toll.[21][22]

Casualties

As of May 2019, 102 people were confirmed dead, 48 females, 43 males, 11 children (1 infant).[23][24][25][26] The youngest was 6 month and the oldest 93 years old.[23] There were 97 Greeks, 2 Polish, 1 Irish, 1 Belgian, 1 Georgian.[23][2]

At least 164 adults and 23 children were taken to hospital with injuries, including 11 adults in serious condition. It was also reported that at least 15 of the injured later died in the hospital.[2]

Cause

On 26 July 2018, the Mayor of Penteli, Dimitris Stergiou, supported that the deadly fire that hit Mati in eastern Attica began from a damaged cable at a utility pole.[27] In a press conference held on 26 July, Nikos Toskas, the Alternate Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, said that there are strong indications of arson, for the fires both in Kineta and Penteli.[28] The defence minister Panos Kammenos said illegal constructions had exacerbated the situation.[29]

The arson investigative department of the Hellenic Fire Service dismissed the arson theory on 27 July, stating the fire was probably started due to wood being burnt in Daou, Penteli. Kathimerini said the suspect's name was already known.[30] A video obtained from a home security camera by the newspaper, showed that a fire started in a clearing near houses in Daou at 4:41 p.m. and quickly spread due to the wind.[31]

A 65-year old resident of the area was charged with manslaughter, causing criminal harm through negligence, negligent arson. He is suspected of causing the fire after burning wood in his garden.[15][32]

Reconstruction
Rafina, Mati and Neos Voutzas in August 2018

The Mayor of Athens Giorgios Kaminis has been in constant communication with the local authorities of the municipalities affected by the wildfires. The City of Athens will commission a study to research and proposed an actionable and resilient reforestation plan, as well as collect funding through the Athens Partnership for those impacted.[33]

During reconstruction and rescue around the wildfires Greek citizens, businesses and organizations banded together to aid one another. Businesses handed out free food and water to victims and first responders, organizations such as the Hellenic Center for Disease Prevention and Control launched donation drives, and citizens have opened their homes for those impacted, both independently and through Airbnb.[34]

International assistance

Greece appealed for help from other countries to help tackle the fires and deal with the emergency situation by submitting a request through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism for international assistance with air and land assets.[35] European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management arrived in Athens on 24 July to coordinate the EU assistance being provided to Greece through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, helped mobilize planes, vehicles, medical personnel and firefighters from the EU countries. The EU’s Copernicus satellite system has also been activated to provide the authorities with highly specialized maps.[36] The Greek minister Nikos Toskas said never before have there been so many offers to assist firefighting efforts, lauding the solidarity other countries have shown.[37]

The following countries responded:

gollark: https://discord.gg/MXfJJsV
gollark: We made a discord server for the schoolgoing public to discuss policy.
gollark: I'm standing for ~~group of figureheads~~ school council.
gollark: Better fernmoji but keep the old ones.
gollark: Better fernmoji.

See also

References
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