Greece - "Apocalyptic" wildfire near Athens kills at least 50. Still raging. 24 July 2018

[MelmothTheLost]

Killer forest fires rip through Greece: 50 dead including 26 in one villa and a fleeing family who perished in the sea as tourists are trapped on beaches, officials send in the army and US drones hunt 'criminal' firestarters

At least 50 people have been killed including 26 in one seaside villa and a six-month-old baby as deadly forest fires continue to rip through Greece.

There are reports of tourists retreating to beaches and people drowning in the sea while trying to escape the flames engulfing woodland around the Athens region.

As the death toll from the worst Greek forest fires in a decade continued to climb today, Red Cross officials said 26 bodies had been found in one seaside villa alone in the coastal town of Mati, 25 miles northeast of the capital.

Regional authorities declared a state of emergency in western and eastern parts of Attica, the greater Athens area- while the Greek government called on the EU for assistance to battle the severe wildfires which have left 150 injured amid temperatures of more than 104F (40C).

At least 50 dead including 26 in one seaside villa as forest fires rip through Greece | Daily Mail Online

 

[MelmothTheLost]

It seems likely that the 26 people killed in one villa would have been an extended family come together for a major family event. That's unimaginable.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

People fleeing to the beaches and being trapped there reminds me of Tacitus' account of the eruption of Vesuvius where where tells of people fleeing to the beaches for rescue that never came. The remains of dozens of them, killed by pyroclastic flows, were found huddled in the remains of buildings some years ago.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Greece wildfires: 'At least 50' killed near Athens as residents and tourists forced to flee into the sea

The worst Greek forest fires in a decade have raged through holiday resorts near Greece's capital, killing at least 50 people and injuring more than 100.

A Red Cross official said on Tuesday morning that 26 bodies had been discovered at the seaside resort of Mati, 18 miles east of Athens, adding to 24 declared dead by authorities overnight.

The fire in Mati, which sent residents and tourists scrambling into the sea to escape the flames on Monday, was one of several that broke out in the country amid a sweltering heat wave, with authorities declaring a state of emergency in the western and eastern parts of Attica.

"Mati doesn't even exist as a settlement anymore," one woman told Greece's Skai TV. "I saw corpses, burned-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive."

Greece wildfires: 'At least 50' killed near Athens as residents and tourists forced to flee into the sea

 

[Shiressleuth]

That's exactly what I thought when I just heard this on the news. ( the account of Vesuvius you mentioned)

I hope they can contain it.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I hope they can contain it.

Me too. They think the fires were started by arsonists wanting to loot abandoned villas. If so, we can only hope they died themselves as a result of their own actions.

 

[JerseyGirl]

In Greece, Wildfires Kill Dozens in Deadliest Blazes in Years

Gale-force winds topping 50 miles an hour have fanned a pair of fires that tore through seaside areas popular with travelers, injuring at least 172 people — including 16 children — and leaving behind a trail of charred resorts, burned-out cars and smoldering farms.

Officials called on their partners in the European Union for help.

In a 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning, 47 new fires broke out, though all but four were quickly extinguished.

Officials and others speculated that at least some of the fires had been set deliberately.

Twelve Coast Guard vessels, aided by about 30 private boats, rescued 710 people who were trapped in Mati and nearby Kokkino Limanaki, and pulled dozens of others from the sea.

 

[Dushi]

This is horrible.
I hope they can contain it.
They say rain coming Wed.

I just got back from Athens a week ago.

 

[Hatfield]

In Greece, Wildfires Kill Dozens in Deadliest Blazes in Years

Gale-force winds topping 50 miles an hour have fanned a pair of fires that tore through seaside areas popular with travelers, injuring at least 172 people — including 16 children — and leaving behind a trail of charred resorts, burned-out cars and smoldering farms.

Officials called on their partners in the European Union for help.

In a 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning, 47 new fires broke out, though all but four were quickly extinguished.

Officials and others speculated that at least some of the fires had been set deliberately.

Twelve Coast Guard vessels, aided by about 30 private boats, rescued 710 people who were trapped in Mati and nearby Kokkino Limanaki, and pulled dozens of others from the sea.

WTH?
"pulled dozens of others from the sea"

Does this mean that the fire pushed them down so close to the beach and got so hot that they had to jump in the water? Nowhere to go but in the water to get away from heat and flames?

So sad of a story. I think Greece now is becoming sort of like California with fires happening regularly during fire season. Not too long ago there was other major fires in greece if I am not mistaken.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

WTH?
"pulled dozens of others from the sea"

Does this mean that the fire pushed them down so close to the beach and got so hot that they had to jump in the water? Nowhere to go but in the water to get away from heat and flames?

Exactly that. If you look at the photos in the Mail there is at least one showing dozens of people in the sea. A number of people went far enough out that they were swept away and drowned.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The Greek fires do seem to have spread much faster and more catastrophically than last autumn's California fires. There were strong suspicions of arson there as well, so I wonder what the difference is.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The Mail is reporting that a rescue boat capsised, killing 10 people:

Ten tourists drowned when a boat capsized trying to rescue them from gale-driven forest fires which have killed at least 60 in Greece and which may have been started deliberately.

A mother and son from Poland were among the dead when the vessel flipped in the water amid rough seas after picking up guests from a hotel in Mati as forest fires tore through the resort, 25 miles from Athens.

Greece fires: At least 60 dead including 26 in one seaside villa | Daily Mail Online

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I have to say that as a Brit, pulling desperate survivors off the beaches in small boats resonates very deeply.

God speed to them all.

 

[JerseyGirl]

This is horrible.
I hope they can contain it.
They say rain coming Wed.

I just got back from Athens a week ago.

My daughter was in Athens and Meteora earlier this month. She said it was very hot and dry.
She's in southern Italy now.

 

[JerseyGirl]

WTH?
"pulled dozens of others from the sea"

Does this mean that the fire pushed them down so close to the beach and got so hot that they had to jump in the water? Nowhere to go but in the water to get away from heat and flames?

Yes
Survivors forced into the sea to escape deadly blazes in Greece

The Greek coast guard and passing boats picked up more than 700 people who'd fled to the water's edge to try and escape the flames and choking smoke
Death toll climbs as fires rage around Athens, Greece

___

.. at least 74 were killed in the forest fires near Athens. More than 180 people are being treated for injuries.

The Latest: Macedonia offers funds to help in Greek fires

 

[MelmothTheLost]

.. at least 74 were killed in the forest fires near Athens. More than 180 people are being treated for injuries.

The Latest: Macedonia offers funds to help in Greek fires

There has been bad blood between Macedonia and Greece in recent years over the very use of the name Macedonia. I hope that Greece recognises the hand that has been extended in its time of need and that relations between the two can improve.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

She's in southern Italy now.

Which bit of southern Italy, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Which bit of southern Italy, if you don't mind my asking?

She's on the island of Ischia now, which is off the coast of Naples. She left Naples yesterday, flew there last week from Croatia (where she traveled to from Athens/Albania/Macedonia/Bosnia). Later this week she'll stay in Sorrento, then up to Rome, Florence, Levanto and Pisa before flying to Poland, then Norway, then home.

She graduated college in May and left a week later, started from Ireland and has been to about 16 counties so far this summer, on about $50 a day. First time solo traveling.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

She's on the island of Ischia now, which is off the coast of Naples. She left Naples yesterday, flew there last week from Croatia (where she traveled to from Athens/Albania/Macedonia/Bosnia). Later this week she'll stay in Sorrento, then up to Rome, Florence, Levanto and Pisa before flying to Poland, then Norway, then home..

Sounds exciting. Many years ago I read Cristo si è fermato a Eboli and have really fancied visiting the caves at Matera.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Sounds exciting. Many years ago I read Cristo si è fermato a Eboli and have really fancied visiting the caves at Matera.

For non-Italian speakers, the title translates as "Christ stopped at Eboli", meaning "Even Jesus didn't venture further than Eboli", or "The region that even Jesus forgot". The ultimate in "God-forsaken".