New Peloponnesian War: Fires Rage Across Greece

[environmentalist]

Tragedy struck in the form of fast moving forest fires in the Peloponnese region of Greece, many set, allegedly, by arson, and exacerbated, definitely, by climate change, that have led to the deaths of sixty people (a toll that is expected to rise)

More at this link

The link covers the story in detail and includes video links as to why this is happening. There have been over 3,000 fires in Greece this summer, worsened climate change (the temperature has been 114F at some points), but someone lit the match.

That's because what has been happening, according to the prime minister, is arson by extremists who want to disrupt the upcoming elections.

Which leads to this question: Are the fires out of control because of politics and bad luck (at least some of the fires were negligence) or has fire become the weapon where another one would have been previously chosen because Greece is so dry?

It's an important concern. We're now seeing large numbers of fires in areas that were not previously so vulnerable. Is it arson, climate change, negligence, politics or all of the above? For the Greeks, all of the above has become a tragic reality. For everyone else, if the fire department tells you to clear the brush at your residence, take them seriously. They'll need all the help they can get in the areas of drought that are expanding around the world.

More at this link



Posted by The Environmentalist

[Mojorabbit]

1. I can't imagine

how bad it must be. I read yesterday people were burned to death in their cars trying to escape the flames.

[environmentalist]

2. That's true

a mother was holding her four children in a car - others were trapped running through olive groves. Two French tourists were found outside their hotel in each other's arms. And four villagers on the island of Evia died today while trying to fight a second fire that started after the fire fighters had left to fight an earlier fire.

The satellite image says it best. There's a video link to the story that has that image here


Posted by The Environmentalist

[Mojorabbit]

3. What a horrible way

to die. I hope they can get the fires under control very soon.

[environmentalist]

4. me, too n/t

Posted by The Environmentalist

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Greek forest fires reward offered (BBC) {several arrests already}

A Greek government statement read: "The reward is set between 100,000 and 1m euros for every of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage."

The fires could have been started as a way of getting around Greek law which forbids development on areas designated as forest land.
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A 65-year-old man has been charged with arson and murder relating to a fire which killed six people in Areopolis, in the far south of Greece.

Two youths were also detained on suspicion of arson in the northern city of Kavala.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6965078.stm