A number of uncontrolled fires continue to rage in Greece for the fifth day in a row. Several of the fires are raging near the capital, Athens.
Among other things, there is a heavy fire at the Parnes mountain range just north of Athens.
– The situation in Parnes is extremely critical, says Vasilis Kikilias, Greece’s climate and civil protection minister.
Several buildings have been evacuated in the area, including three nursing homes.
Kikilias says that in the last five days, Greek emergency services have worked with more than 350 fires, of which more than 200 in the last two days.
– This is an unprecedented situation, he says.
Greece has been helped by 120 firefighters and a number of firefighting planes from several EU countries. On Tuesday, two water-scooping aircraft took off from Sweden to participate in the extinguishing work.
The fires have claimed several lives. Just last Tuesday, 18 people, including two children, were found dead near the village of Avantas in northeastern Greece. They are believed to be migrants who made it to Greece from Turkey.