Greece Announces Firefighters' Control Over Fires

Greek firefighters have managed to "control" the fires that have devastated more than 100,000 hectares since late July, according to a spokesperson who spoke to the AFP news agency on Friday. The spokesperson stated, "Since yesterday (Thursday), there is no longer any major active front but scattered pockets," thanks to rainfall in several areas and a drop in temperatures. Firefighting teams, numbering in the hundreds, along with foreign reinforcements, remain on alert to face the risk of a resurgence of flames on the island of Evia, which has been the hardest hit, and in the Arcadia region of the Peloponnese. Strong winds are expected over the weekend, which could accelerate the spread of potential fires. Since July 27, the fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and small businesses on the island of Evia, located 200 kilometers northeast of Athens, and have also swept through parts of the Peloponnese and the greater Athens suburbs. The fires that ignited since the beginning of August, due to high temperatures, have caused significant environmental damage. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to an unprecedented environmental disaster directly linked to climate change.