Wildfires in Greece’s Corinthia region have led to the deaths of two individuals and injured dozens, with hundreds of firefighters and volunteers working tirelessly to contain the blaze. The fire has also caused extensive damage to a large forested area, prompting assistance from other European Union countries such as Croatia and Italy. Despite the efforts of the fire service, desperation among residents in the region remains high as the wildfire continues to burn.
With the wildfire raging for a third day, more than 400 firefighters and 22 aircraft are working to combat the blaze in the rugged mountains of Corinthia in the Peloponnese region. The early start of the wildfire season, kicking off in April and extending into the fall, has led to a total of 41 wildfires breaking out all over the country in the past 24 hours. The current fire has been described as one of the most challenging faced this season, with resident Antonis Kakavitsos comparing it to wildfires experienced in the year 2000.
Greece, like other countries in southern Europe, faces destructive wildfires every summer that have been worsened by global warming. In the past few months alone, the fire service has had to deal with over 4,500 wildfires across the country. This year’s wildfire season has been noted as the most dangerous in the past two decades, with the dry conditions caused by a prolonged drought and early summer heatwaves exacerbating the situation. The destruction caused by the wildfires in the Corinthia region highlights the urgent need for climate action to prevent such devastating natural disasters in the future.
