More than 45,000 acres have been affected by the major wildfires that have swept through Crete, Paros, southern Boeotia and western Attica since late July, according to a preliminary assessment by WWF Greece. With mapping still under way in several areas, the total affected area is expected to exceed 49,000 acres.
The fires forced more than 10,000 residents and visitors to evacuate, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, farms, crops, olive groves and infrastructure. Five people were killed – three firefighters and two firefighting helicopter pilots – and dozens more were injured.
Firefighting operations were complicated by extreme conditions, with winds exceeding 120 km/h (about 75 mph) in some areas and dozens of simultaneous fire fronts. On 31 July alone, 73 active fires were recorded, while more than 230 wildfires broke out nationwide between 28 July and 2 August.
A very high wildfire risk alert is in effect today for Attica, Evia, Samos, Lesbos, Chios and Psara.
Western Attica is a particular concern, where about 25,200 acres burned. Of those, around 7,000 acres had already burned over the past 20 years, while about 500 acres were covered by fir forest, a species that does not naturally regenerate after fire. More than 7,400 acres may therefore face serious challenges to natural recovery.
Meanwhile, government teams have begun assessing the damage in the affected areas. Financial support includes up to €600 for immediate needs, up to €6,000 to replace household belongings, €300–500 a month in rental assistance for homes deemed temporarily uninhabitable or unsafe, housing assistance for repairs or reconstruction once damage assessments are completed, and compensation covering up to 70% of losses to business equipment and machinery.
Sources: WWF, Kathimerini
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