Fires in Greece leave first victim: a woman found in a burned factory

Emergency services in Greece are battling a massive forest fire threatening Athens for the third day on Tuesday, August 13, after finding the first fatality, while thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes because of the flames.

Klearchos Smaraidas, his face covered in soot and dazed, stands near his burned-out factory on the outskirts of Athens, where one of his workers, who had been on the job for 20 years, died.

Still shaken, Smaraidas explains that the body was found in the sanitary facilities on Monday evening, August 12, at his factory in Patima Halandriou, a municipality near Athens, part of whose 70,000 inhabitants were evacuated due to the threat of the fires that have affected Greece for three days.

“It was perfect. In every way.“Smaraidas says, his face covered in black soot.

“He worked for me for 20 years. He probably died from lack of oxygen. It’s tragic.“, adds the 74-year-old businessman.

Amidst a pile of burnt steel and scorched chairs and tables, a bouquet of white flowers was placed as a tribute.

Fueled by strong winds, the wildfire tore through the arid landscape northeast of the capital, destroying dozens of homes, cars and businesses across the 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of land it has ravaged.

The Greek government has asked other European countries for help. France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia and Turkey have sent hundreds of firefighters, helicopters, water tankers and water trucks, according to the authorities.

The incident affected gravely the suburbs of Nea Penteli, Palaia Penteli, Patima Halandriou and Vrilissia.

Halandri Mayor Simos Roussos told state television ERT that he had seen nearly a dozen houses destroyed by the fire in his town. Numerous businesses, used car and coal depots and paint warehouses were also affected, he said.

“The fire spread over 50 kilometres and changed direction 10 times,” Roussos said.

In nearby Penteli, a helicopter dropped water bombs on huge fireballs coming from a warehouse containing wood and what are believed to be propane tanks. Neighbors fled from the loud explosions, which sent objects flying.

The Ministry of Labor has banned outdoor work in areas affected by the fires because many burned factories contained toxic chemicals.

With much of the capital covered in acrid smoke for two days straight, scientists reported an alarming increase in dangerous particles in the air, especially from Sunday night into Monday evening.

“Never in a million years would I have thought a fire would break out here.“, 65-year-old Sakis Morfis told AFP in front of his destroyed home in Vrilissia.

“We are left without clothes, without money, everything is burned inside“, said.

Hundreds of firefighters, backed by some 200 fire trucks and 12 water-dropping planes, battled the blaze that started in Varnavas, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens.

Costas Tsigkas, head of the Greek firefighters’ association, told ERT that the fire brigade had made progress overnight.

“We are at a better level at the front,” said Tsigkas. “But the conditions will not be easy. There will be wind from midday onwards” and “it will become more difficult with each passing hour.”

Greece’s National Observatory, threatened by the wildfire, said temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) were expected on Tuesday, with winds of up to 39 kilometers (24 miles) per hour.

Greece’s conservative government came under fire in the press over the fire.

“Enough is enough,” proclaimed the front page of Greece’s largest-circulation centrist daily, Ta Nea. The liberal Kathimerini said the “out of control” inferno had “left behind enormous destruction (and) unanswered questions.”

“Evacuate Maximou,” wrote the left-wing daily Efsyn, referring to the building housing the prime minister’s office.

The fire scaled Mount Pentelikon, also known as Mount Pentelicus, which dominates the capital and spread across the suburbs where tens of thousands of residents live.

Dozens of evacuation orders were issued and many thousands of people fled.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis returned from a crisis-related holiday on Sunday but has yet to comment on the disaster.

The destruction revived memories of the fires in Mati, a coastal area near Marathon, in July 2018, where 104 people died in a tragedy blamed on delays and errors in evacuation.

This year’s summer wildfire season in Greece has seen dozens of blazes a day after the Mediterranean country recorded its warmest winter and hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960.

Scientists say human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the duration, frequency and intensity of heat waves around the world.