Calay News
Greece is hoping the rains will finally help extinguish the fires that have raged in the north of the country for more than two weeks, near the border with Turkey. More than 90,000 hectares of vegetation have disappeared in what has been described as “the largest fire ever recorded” in Europe. Although the size of the fire has decreased compared to previous days, it has not yet been fully extinguished.
In the Evros region, where the size of the fire has been significantly reduced, the consequences of this fire are still considerable. Copernicus satellite images show an extensive burned area stretching from the large city of Alexandroupoli to the neighboring forest of Dadia, covering almost the entire territory of this border region like a giant scar.
On the ground, the devastation is evident, with desolate landscapes and charred trees contrasting with the lush vegetation that has survived the fire. The persistent smell of burning permeates the air, even at some distance from the affected areas.
However, the latest statements from Greek firefighters suggest that the flames are receding. The presence of numerous firefighting planes at the Alexandroupolis airport is an indication that the fight against the fire continues in the region, although the main front has subsided and the flames are concentrated in the Dadia forest, near the border town of Soufli.
The hope now is that the rain will hasten the end of this extraordinary fire. Weather forecasts indicate that it could rain on Monday or Tuesday, which could put an end to the biggest fire in the European Union in more than two decades.
This summer, Greece has suffered a series of fires that have left 26 dead and burned more than 150,000 hectares across the country. The policy of preventive evacuations has become common in the country since the traumatic Mati fire in 2018, which killed a hundred people in a matter of hours.
