+- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com)
+-- Forum: Science (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-61.html)
+--- Forum: Meteorology & Climatology (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-72.html)
+--- Thread: Devastating Greek Wildfires (/thread-5809.html)
Devastating Greek Wildfires - Yazata - Jul 24, 2018
Wildfires, driven by strong winds, have already killed more than 70 people northeast of Athens. (74 confirmed, probably more than that.) The fires reportedly appeared suddenly, surprising many people (some of them tourists). People fled the onrushing smoke and flames into the sea, where many people were carried off by currents and disappeared. Others were rescued by fishing boats. The smoke was so thick that swimmers were disoriented and didn't know which direction was which.
The saddest part was 26 dead bodies, including adults and children, found huddled together on a beach for their last moments.
Greece has a similar climate to California (that's why they call it 'Mediterranean') and is prone to similar fires. It has many firefighting resources and firefighting assistance (including air tankers) is flowing in from elsewhere in Europe. Reports suggest that two water bombers each are on their way from Croatia, Italy and Spain, all of them Canadian-built Canadairs. Greece already has seven of these of its own.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/07/24/at-least-49-dead-in-greek-seaside-wildfires-including-20-huddled-near-athens-beach.html
https://www.facebook.com/GreekReporter/videos/10155777767600829/
https://twitter.com/northaura/status/1021649220720357376/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1021649220720357376
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpZjqgv11Fg
The Greek government has called out the Greek military. On a darker note, they say that arson is suspected.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/231029/article/ekathimerini/news/military-to-bolster-fire-patrols-as-arson-suspected-in-attica-blaze
RE: Devastating Greek Wildfires - Yazata - Jul 25, 2018
Death toll is up to 80. Hundreds are injured. Nobody knows yet how many are missing. Parents are asking for help finding their lost children, it's really sad. Greece has declared a state of emergency. They are devoting a huge effort to fighting this, are receiving a large amount of aid from other EU countries and they seem to be getting an upper hand on the fires.
Here's a video shot from a helicopter that shows the devastation. It appears that the fires roared through a populated Athens suburban area.
The vegetation, topography (and the fires) really do look like parts of California.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qhxIiuBbog