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Southern Europe battles fires as heatwave goes on

The village of Kounina, Greece, is surrounded by flames on Thursday as fires in the region continued to rage after burning unchecked for several days. PHOTO: EPA

Southern Europe yesterday battled fresh fires in the wake of a blistering heatwave, with Greece awaiting the arrival of firefighting aircraft from Russia and Italy preparing to declare a state of disaster in the south.

The declaration, which was expected at a morning cabinet meeting, was aimed at appropriate funding for fire-ravaged regions of central and southern Italy, as well as Sardinia.

At least 4,500 hectares of protected areas have burned as well as more than 5,000 hectares of farmland worth some 1 billion euros (US$1.4 billion).

Another 15,000 hectares are believed to have been destroyed in the northern Peloponnese in Greece, one of the country's most scenic areas.

Greek fire-fighters continued to battle over a dozen wildfires around the country for a fourth straight day yesterday.

The largest front was in the southern region of Achaia in the Peloponnese, where over 230 firemen backed by troops and two helicopters fought a blaze that since Tuesday has destroyed around 100 homes and properties in local villages, killing three elderly villagers who did not flee the area in time.

"The situation has improved somewhat, but there are still many fronts in progress," a fire department press officer said.

Help was expected to arrive after Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to send "water-bomber" aircraft following a request by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Fires were raging yesterday across the Greek mainland, from the northern regions of Ioannina, Kastoria, Florina, Pieria, Kozani and Salonika to the southern regions of Messinia and Corinth and the central region of Viotia.

Firefighters had trouble reaching two of the fires in Ioannina and Kastoria because of land mines dating from World War II and the Greek Civil War more than 60 years ago.

A Russian plane was also sent to traditional ally Serbia, joining firefighters, army and police units tackling 16 forest fires throughout the country, where more than 12,000 hectares were ablaze.

Helicopters and Canadair water bombers were likewise sent from Turkey, Slovenia and Croatia to Macedonia to help control more than 20 fires, some of them suspected to have been caused by arsonists.
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