Greece Rescues 25 Migrants from Evros Forest Fire

Greek authorities announced that they rescued a group of 25 migrants today, Friday, who were trapped in a forest fire that has been raging for nearly two weeks in the Evros region of northeastern Greece. The wildfire in Evros, which is the deadliest forest fire in Europe this summer, has been ongoing for the fourteenth consecutive day, resulting in at least 20 deaths and the destruction of homes and vast areas of forest. It is believed that all but one of the deceased are illegal migrants who crossed from Turkey and sought refuge in the forests to hide from the police. Evros is known as a crossing point for thousands of migrants and refugees to European Union countries each year. Fire Department spokesman Ioannis Artopios told Reuters, "While working in the villages of Gianoli and Dadia, the fire department and police found 25 people who were moved to a safe place." A police official stated that all of the migrants are males from Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, and reported that they were arrested.