Greece has raised its wildfire alert level to \"high risk\" after a series of devastating blazes broke out across the country. According to the civil protection ministry, a total of 71 fires were declared in agricultural and forestry regions over a 12-hour period on Saturday, between 3:00 a.m. GMT and 3:00 p.m. GMT.
The fires, including a major blaze in Lasithi on the island of Crete, were eventually brought under control by mid-day Sunday, thanks to the swift efforts of the fire department. As a result of the wildfires, three individuals sustained minor injuries, and one person has been arrested for allegedly causing the fire on Saturday morning. This individual is slated to be transferred to the Lasithi public prosecutor's office on Monday.
Adding to the challenges, strong winds reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour are expected to persist until Tuesday in various parts of Greece, including the Athens region, the center, the Cyclades islands, and Crete. These conditions have compelled all civil protection services in the affected areas to be placed on level four, indicating a high risk of further fires.
Compounding the wildfire risk, Greece experienced a record average temperature of 11.8 degrees Celsius over the winter, as reported by the Athens Observatory. Scientists warn that this warmest winter on record has left much of the land unusually warm and dry, creating a ripe environment for wildfires. Since the start of April, temperatures have remained unseasonably high, with Chania on Crete recording a peak of 31 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Last summer, Greece faced a prolonged heatwave that resulted in the deaths of 20 people and scorched nearly 175,000 hectares of land in rampant wildfires. As the country navigates the current high-risk period, authorities remain vigilant to prevent further fire outbreaks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
