# Greek villagers try to save homes as wildfires burn for eighth day
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-08-10
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Residents Protect Homes from Wildfires in Evia, Greece
Meta Description: Residents in Avgaria, Greece are battling wildfires to save their homes while the government faces criticism. Stay updated on the crisis here.
URL: https://financedigest.com/greek-villagers-try-to-save-homes-as-wildfires-burn-for-eighth-dayhtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-08-10t152005z1lynxmpeh790p5rtroptp3greece-wildfires-1736838032473-compressed.jpg)

By Lefteris Papadimas and Leon Malherbe

AVGARIA, Greece (Reuters) – Residents mounted a round the clock watch on Tuesday to try to save their homes from wildfires still ravaging the Greek island of Evia, as the government defended its handling of the crisis.

Fire crews were bracing for winds to pick up later on Tuesday which could intensify flare ups on Greece’s second largest island, where fires were burning for an eighth day. Other fronts in the Peloponnese could also be reignited.

The government was due to announce relief measures for those who have lost [homes and property](https://www.financedigest.com/taylor-fay-homes-recruit-cordant-projects-for-innovative-property-initiative.html "Taylor Fay homes recruit Cordant Projects for innovative property initiative"), but for some villagers, leaving their houses to the flames turning the skies a deep red was not an option.

Police came and told us to [evacuate the village](https://www.financedigest.com/swiss-prepare-to-evacuate-village-threatened-by-vast-landslide.html "Swiss prepare to evacuate village threatened by vast landslide") of Avgaria but we cannot, this is our property. We cannot let our homes burn,” said Ioannis Aggelopoulos, 55, who owns a car body shop at Istiaia, on the island’s northern tip.

“We have been sleeping in shifts.”

Residents were using hoses to [put out fires burning near their homes and helping firefighters](https://www.financedigest.com/firefighters-scramble-to-put-out-flames-in-heatwave-hit-portugal-spain.html "Firefighters scramble to put out flames in heatwave-hit Portugal, Spain") and volunteers.

In Athens, the main political opposition blamed the government for using [climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/scientists-in-germany-turn-up-heat-on-seagrass-in-climate-change-fight.html "Scientists in Germany turn up heat on seagrass in climate change fight") as an excuse to cover up deficiencies in its handling of the crisis.

[“Climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-risks-of-climate-change-overplayed-senior-hsbc-banker-says.html "Financial risks of climate change overplayed, senior HSBC banker says") is without doubt an especially dangerous reality. However, it cannot be used as an excuse by the [government because it ignored our warnings](https://www.financedigest.com/watchdog-warned-uk-government-of-spyware-infections-inside-10-downing-street.html "Watchdog warned UK government of spyware infections inside 10 Downing Street") and those of scientists,” Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing SYRIZA party, told reporters.

On Monday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised for failures in tackling the wildfires that have burned across the country as authorities began [counting the cost](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-east-europeans-count-their-pennies-for-christmas-as-food-costs-soar.html "Analysis-East Europeans count their pennies for Christmas as food costs soar") in lost homes and livelihoods.

He is chairing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and the [government is due](https://www.financedigest.com/uniper-ceo-to-resign-due-to-government-takeover.html "Uniper CEO to resign due to government takeover") to announce relief measures for those who lost homes, farms and other property.

On Monday he approved a 500-million-euro budget for aid for Evia and the Attica region around Athens.

Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias told reporters the state apparatus did everything possible as it was faced with 586 wildfires in eight [days during the worst heatwave in 30 years](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-international-womens-day-date-history-and-this-years-theme.html "Explainer-International Women’s Day: date, history and this year’s theme").

“Do not shoot the fighters in the hour of battle. Every [home lost for us is a stab in the heart,”](https://www.financedigest.com/forest-view-homes-minutes-from-the-heart-of-constable-country.html "Forest View – Homes Minutes From The Heart Of Constable Country") Hardalias said. The [losses we suffered](https://www.financedigest.com/global-economy-suffers-53bn-natural-disaster-loss-during-1h-2017-according-to-aon-catastrophe-report.html "Global economy suffers bn natural disaster loss during 1H 2017, according to Aon catastrophe report") involved fighters, not civilians.

One volunteer firefighter has died and three others have been hospitalised.

Sentinel-2 satellite imagery showed swathes of forest scorched by the wildfires in Attica, Evia and the Peloponnese, with the Athens National Observatory [estimating that about 650,000 hectares had been burned in total](https://www.financedigest.com/simalliance-members-report-shipments-of-4-9-billion-sims-in-2017-while-estimated-total-available-sim-market-in-2017-increases-2-75-to-5-6-billion-units.html "SIMalliance Members Report Shipments of 4.9 Billion SIMs in 2017, while Estimated Total Available SIM Market in 2017 Increases 2.75% to 5.6 Billion Units   ") until Sunday.

More than 500 fires have been burning across Greece, forcing the [evacuation of dozens of villages and thousands of people](https://www.financedigest.com/the-man-who-evacuated-200-people-from-mariupol-in-a-battered-red-van.html "The man who evacuated 200 people from Mariupol in a battered red van"). Almost 1,000 firefighters, nine aircraft and 200 vehicles have been sent to Greece from other [European countries](https://www.financedigest.com/bnp-paribas-offers-nexo-standards-across-14-countries-to-enable-fast-interoperable-and-borderless-card-payment-acceptance-for-european-merchants.html "BNP Paribas Offers nexo standards Across 14 Countries to Enable Fast, Interoperable and Borderless Card Payment Acceptance for European Merchants") to help.

Mitsotakis promised that forests destroyed by the fires would be restored and climate defences would be built up.

(Writing by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Alison Williams and Janet Lawrence)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---