Red alert: devastating fires in Greece again!

Red alert: devastating fires in Greece again!

The situation in Greece is currently alarming: major fires are raging in several regions, frightening not only the local population but also tourists. The popular holiday islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos are particularly affected. This region attracts numerous travelers every year, but they are now concerned about current developments. Radiowuppertal reports that the Peloponnese and Halkidiki peninsulas are also at serious risk.

One reason for the rapid spread of the fires is the prolonged drought and the intense winds, which make extinguishing work difficult. Houses in Zakynthos are at risk of major fire, while alarming fires are also raging in the Fokida region, which lies north of the Peloponnese peninsula. However, there is some relief: no residential areas are currently in danger on Kefalonia. Nevertheless, the Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection has called for caution. Citizens are urged not to light embers as nearly a third of the country is under the second-highest fire warning level. This affects almost the entire Peloponnese peninsula, the northwest coast and the islands of Lesbos and Samos.

What is civil defense doing? Last weekend, Greek civil defense warned of an extremely high risk of forest fires in many parts of the country, particularly in the south and east of the Peloponnese peninsula and in the region around the capital Athens, which is marked in deep red on the risk map. N TV reports that parts of the islands of Euboea and Crete are also affected. The heat wave has contributed to the high level of drought, which has further increased the risk of fires. The public is strongly warned to exercise extreme caution when grilling, smoking and handling sparks. A recent fire on the Peloponnese peninsula was caused by improper handling of steel parts and a circular saw.

The effects of climate change

But why is the situation so tense? A look at the background shows that climate change plays a crucial role. A forest fire near Athens was at times just 11 kilometers from the city center, forcing many people in the suburbs to evacuate. Reports like those from the South German newspaper show that the major fire has already devastated around 100 square kilometers of untouched nature. The latest State of Wildfires report notes that experts have identified several key drivers of wildfires in Greece, including weather conditions and human influences.

What is particularly alarming is that the likelihood of high fire danger in the summer months has increased dramatically as a result of climate change. The year 2023 has shown that extremely high values ​​in the fire weather index correlate with a higher probability of fire occurrence. Experts warn that if global temperatures rise by three degrees Celsius by 2100, the likelihood of massive forest fires will be at least twice as high as in 2023. This means not only a threat to nature, but also significant economic consequences due to fire extinguishing costs and possible reconstruction work.

In the discussion about the future fire risk and its management, experts recommend investing more in prevention and firefighting in order to minimize the catastrophic consequences. With a good hand and decisive action, life and nature could be at stake in the long term.