As wildfires wipe out forests, Greeks debate: to replant, or not?
EDWARD MCALLISTER, of Reuters, reports on the challenges facing Greek communities after recent fires…
Greece to compensate fire-stricken households near Athens
Athens, Greece Reuters Greece said on Tuesday it would offer emergency compensation totalling millions of euros to hundreds of households and businesses affected by a blaze that killed one woman and torched 10,000 hectares near Athens. The blaze began on 11th August near the town of Varnavas, 35 kilometres from the capital, and within a […]
Panic and destruction in Greece as wildfire and city meet
Athens, Greece Reuters Vangelis Ilias was returning from holiday on Monday when friends called to tell him the unthinkable. A wildfire in forests north of Athens had suddenly descended on his suburb and was approaching his sculpture workshop. Minutes later, the 55-year-old’s shop on a plot between warehouses, fields and a wood seller in Vrilissia, […]
Greek wildfire eases near Athens after one death
Athens, Greece Reuters Greece’s worst wildfire of the year eased on the outskirts of the capital Athens on Tuesday thanks to weaker winds, pausing progress of a destructive blaze that killed one person and torched cars, buildings, fields and forests. Hundreds of firefighters backed by 10 waterbombing aircraft battled the blaze since Sunday as it […]
Wildfire fanned by gales menaces Athens suburbs as residents flee
Athens, Greece Reuters Greece’s worst wildfire this year spread into the Athens suburbs on Monday, forcing hundreds of people to flee as it torched trees, homes and cars and choked busy roads with smoke and ash. The government called for help from fellow EU members to tackle the fire that was burning out of control […]
Greek wildfire rages near Athens; towns, hospitals evacuated
Grammatiko/Athens, Greece Reuters A fast-moving wildfire fuelled by gale-force winds raged unabated closer to Athens on Monday, burning trees, houses and cars and forcing evacuations of hospitals and at least 11 towns and villages, Greek authorities said. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Greece since May. While summer fires are common in Greece, extraordinarily […]
People flee wildfire near Athens as it spreads “like lightning”
Varnavas/Athens, Greece Reuters Residents fled their homes on Sunday as a fast-moving wildfire outside Athens fuelled by hot, windy weather burned trees, houses and cars and sent smoke clouds over the Greek capital. More than 400 firefighters backed by 16 waterbombing planes and 13 helicopters battled the blaze that broke out at 3pm and quickly […]
Mount Athos: Police, monks gear up for another battle over monastic site
Over 100 monks deemed schismatic have been living on the holy mountain without authorisation since 2002. DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports…
Greece’s Santorini bursts with tourists as locals call for a cap
Santorini, Greece Reuters Armed with selfie sticks and phones, the tourists flood into Santorini from everywhere – on dinghies from giant ocean liners, on coaches that zigzag up the steep hillsides, atop donkeys that clip-clop along the narrow cobbled streets. Some brave the afternoon heat to find a good spot among the white-washed houses and […]
Looted after a war, priceless antiquities brought back to Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus Reuters Cyprus has taken delivery of priceless antiquities looted after war split the island in 1974, as part of an ongoing effort to trace and repatriate thousands of artefacts fenced worldwide. Authorities say thousands of antiquities were stolen and sold across the world after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. […]