Local Community Reacts To Greece Fires
Posted August 24, 2009 12:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For Chris Todoulou, the sight is heartbreaking.
“It is just devastating,” he said of the wildfires that are raging in Greece.
“Out of nowhere, we cannot go, we cannot reach our families – outside of Athens! It’s so close, you just smell and see the smoke.
“People are trying to save their homes.”
Thousands of people were forced to flee as wildfires continue to burn just north of Athens.
The flames have been raging for four days and overworked crews finally saw a break in their battle on Monday.
There was a partial drop in gale-force winds that had been fanning the flames.
But the wildfires are far from over.
Other European nations have now joined the battle, sending water-dropping planes and extra manpower to the country.
In Canada, Toronto MP Jim Karygiannis has called upon Prime Minister Stephen Harper to send crews of our own to help.
Karygiannis’ parents live just two kilometres from the largest fire.
So far, the flames have razed more than 58 square miles (37,000 acres) of land.
There are no reports of serious injuries or death.
Photo credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images.
