Author Topic: Killer fires  (Read 6570 times)

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Offline Maik

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Killer fires
« on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 02:32:17 »
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Greece seeks international help battling deadly wildfires

Forest fires raging across Greece have killed at least six people and injured dozens more, forcing the authorities to ask for international assistance.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes and people have left their homes near the capital, Athens.

A search and rescue operation is underway for 10 tourists who fled one of the fires in a boat, officials say.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44932366

Offline Jolly Roger

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 08:15:54 »


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At least twenty-four people have died in huge fires raging out of control outside the Greek capital.

Twenty deaths were confirmed by Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Tzanakopoulos while four more were found dead in the sea at the area of Artemida in Attica by the Greek Coast guard in the first hours of Tuesday.

Another sixty-nine victims have been hospitalised.

Greek authorities have declared a state of emergency in the eastern and western parts of greater Athens, as fires fanned by gale-force winds raged through pine forests and seaside towns on either side of the Greek capital.

One fire was burning Monday northeast of Athens in the Penteli area, moving into the town of Rafina. In nearby Mati, the coast guard was sending a patrol boat to evacuate people trapped on a beach by the flames.

The second wildfire was ravaging mountainous pine forests 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Athens. The blaze has created such thick smoke that the main highways between the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland have been shut down and an orange haze has descended on Athens.


http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/07/24/24-dead-as-huge-fires-rage-near-greece-capital/

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 12:19:59 »
The death toll keeps rising, other reports state at least fifty dead - many children -  in an area popular with Greeks on holiday:

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Greece wildfires: Nearly 50 dead in holiday area
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44932366



https://youtu.be/DjOcgTJrPpQ?t=00s39s

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 20:26:20 »
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Greece wildfires a 'Biblical disaster': At least 74 killed near Athens as tourists forced to flee into sea
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/24/greece-wildfires-least-20-killed-near-athens-residents-flee/

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 20:42:40 »
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Greek PM declares 3-day period of mourning for wildfire victims

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared a three-day period of mourning for the victims of a deadly wildfire that swept through a coastal stretch of eastern Attica prefecture over the previous 24 hours.

Tsipras again took to the national airwaves to make an address, referring to an unspeakable tragedy. He also thanked for foreign leaders for the support being dispatched to Greece.

"Now is the time for mobilization and struggle, to save whatever can be saved; to find those missing," he said.
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1375504/greek-pm-declares-3-day-period-of-mourning-for-wildfire-victims

Offline Colleywobble

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday, 24 July, 2018 @ 21:27:33 »
Truly terrible pictures on our news programs. Our Sympathy goes out to all the people who have been affected by this tragedy.

Offline TonyKath

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday, 25 July, 2018 @ 00:35:19 »
Truly terrible pictures on our news programs. Our Sympathy goes out to all the people who have been affected by this tragedy.
Well said Colley. Absolutely. Been following it live on Greek ProtoThema. Totally shocking stories and increasingly horrific pics on UK TV.  A complete tragedy for Greece. During the day I was horrified to read that a crazy Greek bishop had said the fires were "a curse from God" because of Alex Tsipras' atheism. Nice to know God is like that. (Sorry can't find an English language link)

 :rant: :papa:
Tony

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday, 25 July, 2018 @ 10:22:22 »
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‘Atheist PM’ to blame for deadly fires, says Greek bishop
http://www.ekathimerini.com/231080/article/ekathimerini/news/atheist-pm-to-blame-for-deadly-fires-says-greek-bishop


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Olympiacos FC announces one-million-euro donation to victims of wildfires
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1375645/olympiacos-fc-announces-one-million-euro-donation-to-victims-of-wildfires


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FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in a tweet today pledged to offer approximately 97,000 euros to Greece to handle the repercussions of the deadly wildfires
http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=1007494

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday, 25 July, 2018 @ 16:32:28 »
Suggestive scare from the Mail:

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Heading to Greece on holiday? As wildfires rip through tourist resorts here's what you need to check before you set off
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-5985669/Advice-holidaymakers-heading-wildfire-hit-Greece.html


but more restraint from the Express:

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Greece fires: UK Government issues advice to British tourists as wildfires kill 74 people
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/993756/Greece-fires-mati-athens-wildfires-FCO-travel-advice-British-tourists


From what I've read, it's possible a Polish family and an Irish couple are missing in the fire affected areas but the fires aren't in areas generally popular with UK nationals. Any FCO updates will be posted on the website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece


Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday, 25 July, 2018 @ 22:56:14 »
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How the fires in Mati, Greece, spread – a visual guide
The fire, which killed scores of people and injured almost 200, rapidly took hold on Monday
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2018/jul/25/how-the-fires-in-mati-greece-spread-a-visual-guide

Offline Bryan-in-Kilkis

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #10 on: Thursday, 26 July, 2018 @ 13:15:38 »
Trust the utterly incompetent SYRIZA government to send Panos Kammenos to the devastated area.  "Kammenos" in Greek means "burnt".  How insensitive is that???  :oki: :oki: :oki: :oki:

Offline TonyKath

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #11 on: Thursday, 26 July, 2018 @ 13:27:12 »
Trust the utterly incompetent SYRIZA government to send Panos Kammenos to the devastated area.  "Kammenos" in Greek means "burnt".  How insensitive is that???  :oki: :oki: :oki: :oki:

Far be it from me to support anyone from ANEL, the Independant Greeks, but he is Minister of Defence!  Blame his dad for his stupid name!

Tony

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #12 on: Friday, 27 July, 2018 @ 10:29:57 »
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Greek officials see 'serious indications' arson led to fire

Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas said satellite image analysis and ground inspections provided "serious indications" the fire that broke out in multiple places within a short time frame Monday and killed at least 82 people was set deliberately.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/231167/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-officials-see-serious-indications-arson-led-to-fire

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #13 on: Friday, 27 July, 2018 @ 10:33:54 »
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Cars submerged in water after torrential rain hits Athens!

After the deadly wildfires that hit the region of Attica, a heavy storm has descended on the area, with the National Meteorological Services (EMY) warning the severe weather phenomena will soon cover the fire-stricken areas, making the search operations even more difficult.
http://en.protothema.gr/cars-submerged-in-water-after-torrential-rain-hits-athens-video/

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #14 on: Saturday, 28 July, 2018 @ 12:50:25 »
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Arson narrative shot down by report

Despite talk by government officials that arsonists could have been behind Monday’s wildfires, an investigation conducted by the Hellenic Fire Service’s arson department (DAEE) suggested the cause was negligence.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/231198/article/ekathimerini/news/arson-narrative-shot-down-by-report

Offline Maik

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Re: Killer fires
« Reply #15 on: Wednesday, 01 August, 2018 @ 21:15:27 »
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Dog discovered cowering in oven amid devastation left by Greece wildfire
'He just looked like a burnt shaggy rug'

A dog managed to escape the deadly wildfires in Greece by hiding in an outside oven as blazes devastated the tourist town of Mati.

The terrified white poodle-cross was found looking like a "burnt shaggy rug" by an animal rescue volunteer as she scoured the resort last week.

The blaze on 23 July left at least 91 people dead and is thought to have killed hundreds of pets and strays as it swept through the seaside town.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greece-wildfires-dog-survives-oven-mati-arson-athens-dead-victims-a8472876.html