Greek Wild Fire kills aleast 74 people
Survivors of the wildfires that have killed at least 74 people in Greece have described how they were forced into the sea by a blaze that “struck like a flamethrower”.
“The flames were chasing us all the way to the water,” said one victim.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 26 adults and children who apparently died hugging each other were found close to the sea.
As the search for missing persons continues, a website has been set up to help relatives trace their loved ones.
Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the flames, which have been fanned by winds of up to 60mph (100km/h) and have devastated the seaside village of Mati, engulfing homes and vehicles.-BBC
?? Death toll hits 50 from Greek wildfires ? @atzortzinis ? By Valerie Gache #AFPhttps://t.co/H2SNlBSsuw pic.twitter.com/qhvnrDjhAJ
— AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) July 24, 2018
#UPDATE 50 people have died and 170 have been injured in wildfires ravaging the Athens region, as Greek authorities rush to evacuate residents and tourists stranded on beaches https://t.co/i3wouYWwpL #AthensFires #Mati pic.twitter.com/GQmUcryDeA
— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 24, 2018
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras declares three-day period of mourning for victims of deadly wildfires in Greecehttps://t.co/hXxldenh2P pic.twitter.com/KP5LSZ6xso
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 24, 2018
Breaking: Greek officials say wildfires death toll 'has exceeded 60 people' as a state of emergency is declared near Athens.
?Follow the events live here: https://t.co/cxRNpGBLEP pic.twitter.com/5PlcvqeO9D
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 24, 2018
At least 20 people have died as two large wildfires continue to burn on the outskirts of Athens, Greek officials say. https://t.co/MGEx4qwmGP pic.twitter.com/t2ga2ec743
— ABC News (@ABC) July 24, 2018
At least 20 dead and 100+ injured as wildfire sweeps through resort town in Greece. https://t.co/9pxLCMIktd – @Reuters
“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.”
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) July 24, 2018
VIDEO: Aftermath of the deadly wildfire that ripped through the Greek seaside resort of #Mati, 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of the capital Athens #AthensFires pic.twitter.com/bH5iOUqefg
— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 24, 2018
Our thoughts are with people the Athens & our Greek firefighting colleagues who are battling wildfires that have sadly claimed the lives of around 50 people pic.twitter.com/MNd9NPr90o
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 24, 2018
At least 20 people died and more than 100 others were injured as a wildfire swept through a small resort town in eastern Greece, trapping many victims as they fled. https://t.co/HjKknP3Dmq
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 24, 2018
HB Patriarch Daniel expresses solidarity with Greek people following deadliest wildfire in yearshttps://t.co/bPRH3NhilV pic.twitter.com/icpoeC06N8
— Basilica.ro (EN) (@BasilicaNews) July 24, 2018
Horrible news about #Athens. At least 50 dead in #Greek seaside #wildfires, including 20 huddled near Athens beach. Please, accept my condolences at this difficult time. @GreeceMFA @atsipras @tsipras_eu #PrayforAthen
— Savaş Genç (@savasgnc) July 24, 2018
A person from FYROM has had their say about the ongoing wildfires of Athens
This type of behaviour against the Greeks is absolutely disgusting and humiliating, we do not condone this type of nonsense. Disgraceful! Where's the respect & sympathy?#PrayForGreece#PrayForAthens pic.twitter.com/1wgQ53Gdc6
— Βουκεφαλος (@355BC326BC) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfires kill 74 – the deadliest season in decades https://t.co/TDQzspZw2V pic.twitter.com/UjvGhMdGWY
— CP24 (@CP24) July 24, 2018
'A Terrible Day': Greek Wildfires Kill 74 And Devastate Resort Village https://t.co/NVXjiMUdHX
— NPR (@NPR) July 24, 2018
At least 74 people have been killed in #wildfires raging close to Athens since Monday, a #Greek fire brigade official said on Tuesday.
— China Daily (@ChinaDailyUSA) July 24, 2018
Our thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their loved ones and their homes in the wildfires in Greece. We're also thinking of our Greek firefighting colleagues who are battling to bring the fires under control. pic.twitter.com/DTVLY37HAj
— Essex Fire Service (@ECFRS) July 24, 2018
Developing: Greek wildfire responsible for at least 60 dead pic.twitter.com/bhwnk6ZCVQ
— Travel True ? (@J_H_5) July 24, 2018
Send our solidarity to greek citizens for the terrible wildfires, provoking death and destruction. A lot of public workers are engaged in rescue and security, trying to save human lives. We stay with them and by them, our brothers and sisters of @adedygr pic.twitter.com/IPCWEwnLq9
— FPCGILInternational (@fpcgil_internaz) July 24, 2018
Bodies found huddled together, hugging as Greek wildfire rages. https://t.co/FU5f5QyHQu pic.twitter.com/gtNY1gO9zn
— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) July 24, 2018
Devastating wildfires tear through Greece killing dozens of people and injuring 150+pic.twitter.com/h2igl2d5YE#greek #follobackforfolloback #follwme #FolloForFolloBack #follo4folloback #news #Greecefires #Greecefire #news
— AlexCam (@followalexcam) July 24, 2018
Over 70 people have died as major wildfires rage out of control around the Greek capital of Athens, forcing many people to flee by sea https://t.co/DUfNcwYaso pic.twitter.com/0mhff5HaNl
— dwnews (@dwnews) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfires kill more than 60 people. Greece has dealt with wildfires on a regular basis. Yet 2018 has been the deadliest year since 2007, when 84 people died and 2,700km² of forest were destroyed across the country. (video Eleana Balabani CCBYSA4.0) https://t.co/KC30seVtGV pic.twitter.com/LdlnZ5Lvga
— WikiTribune (@WikiTribune) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfires: dry winter and strong winds led to tinderbox conditions https://t.co/LTS2hscYo9
— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) July 24, 2018
Six friends fled into a rough sea to escape a fast-moving wildfire in Greece. Only four made it back. https://t.co/aXuCFVYh0o
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) July 24, 2018
Greek Interior Minister Panos Skourletis described #Greecewildfires as a 'Biblical disaster' https://t.co/ugBSEoDP18 #wildfires #wildfiresGreek pic.twitter.com/5D64206Ggf
— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) July 24, 2018
Our thoughts are with our Greek firefighting colleagues who are battling a large #wildfire in #Athens. Please remember to be particular vigilant of outdoor fires in #EastSussex too and take steps to help prevent them from starting!
(With thanks @cambsfrs for the messaging) pic.twitter.com/B5PblJ8RA9
— East Sussex FRS (@EastSussexFRS) July 24, 2018
Cyprus sends help in Greek wildfire #Cyprus #Greece #Mati #Athens #fire #KnewsCy | KNEWS | https://t.co/rWuMxpX9sY pic.twitter.com/BL3qgCDa7f
— Kathimerini Cyprus English Edition (@knews_cy) July 24, 2018
At least 20 people have died, Greece's government spokesman said early Tuesday, and more than 100 are injured as three huge fires fueled by powerful winds burned near the Greek capital, Athens. https://t.co/QdOfxku6cS
— NPR (@NPR) July 24, 2018
.@US_EUCOM: "At the request of the Greek government, the US Navy & Air Force are providing assistance with overflights in response to the wildfires." The Navy is providing a P-8A surveillance aircraft & the Air Force is providing a MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle out of Larissa
— Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75) July 24, 2018
We can't talk about the Greek fires (or any wildfire really) without talking about the changed climate or where we choose to live https://t.co/2dXBPfcG4u
— Brian L Kahn (@blkahn) July 24, 2018
Horrible news about #Athens. At least 50 dead in #Greek seaside #wildfires, including 20 huddled near Athens beach. Cannot imagine how it would feel to stand to lose your home, your possessions, loved ones… #PrayForAthens #AthensFires pic.twitter.com/tQCxaSGHNM
— Aslı Turanlı (@turanliasli) July 24, 2018
It speaks volumes for the state of the Greek state when the first measures announced by the government for the victims of the wildfires are tax deferrals and exemptions.
— Katerina Sokou (@KaterinaSokou) July 24, 2018
At least 60 people have died after twin wildfires raged through popular seaside areas near the Greek capital, Athens. The wildfires are the worst Greece has seen since 2007, CBS News correspondent Seth Doane reports. https://t.co/3CnvXqLoYR pic.twitter.com/TRhtLx7cUa
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfire kills at least 49, fire brigade says https://t.co/tpsI1SVMB3 pic.twitter.com/ExUWvzBHJZ
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfires; Irish droughts and heatwaves in Japan, Africa and Scandinavia. Time for @DenisNaughten to smell the smoke and do more on #climate https://t.co/aQaBNm76jn pic.twitter.com/fWFT6WxLAr
— Ciarán Cuffe (@CiaranCuffe) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfires update: BA says passengers from Athens who want to come back early should call to discuss.https://t.co/VqfY03R8uD
— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) July 24, 2018
Greek Air Force releases aerial footage from Athens wildfires https://t.co/KiC1C3pXqr
— Keep Talking Greece (@keeptalkingGR) July 24, 2018
Horrible news about #Athens. At least 50 dead in #Greek seaside #wildfires, including 20 huddled near Athens beach. Cannot imagine how it would feel to stand to lose your home, your possessions, loved ones… #PrayForAthens #AthensFires pic.twitter.com/dtDXcRb1kJ
— Selahattin Sevi (@selahattinsevi) July 24, 2018
Our second edition @EveningStandard with tragic news of 24 adults and children killed huddled together in the Greek wildfires pic.twitter.com/Y1FE5mYcH7
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfire kills dozens, more die in Japan's record heatwave & hundreds in extreme floods. Record heat internationally. Some might say it's a pattern worth taking radical action on, before becoming the new normal, or worse. Big dots not being joined. https://t.co/v4U6UA011j
— Andrew Simms (@AndrewSimms_uk) July 24, 2018
Greek Prime Minister declares three-day national mourning as 60 people are reported dead in Greece wildfires – Irish Department of Foreign Affairs say they are providing 'consular assistance' to a number of people https://t.co/QtRtepOfX1 pic.twitter.com/O2TzuDJjJ9
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) July 24, 2018
RT @ABC: Drone footage shows wildfire devastation from the sky as at least 50 people are killed and more than 150 injured in Greece. https://t.co/m2eAIEA6eW pic.twitter.com/LFvOWYG0Ww
— res7cue (@res7cuefox5) July 24, 2018
Israel has offered the Greek government assistance in combating the wildfires that are raging across the country and have put rescue teams on alert, in case they are needed pic.twitter.com/OdM8WgOB8s
— Daniel Meron (@AmbMeron) July 24, 2018
Greek wildfire kills 50 as residents flee resort near Athens https://t.co/jp7ikBEpGE pic.twitter.com/loHYBlEzHG
— GrecoNews (@greco_news) July 24, 2018
Most of the victims were trapped in the village of #Mati, 40km (25 miles) north-east of #Athens, and died either in their homes or their cars. This village in the Rafina region is popular with tourists. https://t.co/iePXKgit6e #Greece #AthensFires
— Francisco Taveira (@jftaveira1993) July 24, 2018
