Forest fires burn on in Greece; death toll nears 50
{{date|August 25, 2007}}
[[Image:Greece Forest Fire June 18 2007.jpg|220px|thumb|Forest fires burn in Greece. {{image credit|Lotus R.}}]]
In southern [[Greece]] today, huge forest fires continue to burn on destroying homes and causing severe damage to the region. Local fire departments put the current death toll at at least 37, nine of which were children.

Since Friday morning, around 170 fires have been burning, many of which are believed to be caused by arson. Authorities are calling the fires "criminal acts." Fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis said most of the fires were started in entirely different areas, and were started after dark. Some fires reportedly broke out in "lush greenery."

[[Image:Picture156.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Fire in [[w:Keratea|Keratea]], as it is seen from [[w:Markopoulo Mesogaias|Markopoulo Mesogaias]]]]
27 deaths have been confirmed in [[w:Peloponnese|Peloponnese]], one of the hardest hit areas. Today, however, fires broke out near [[w:Athens|Athens]].

Prime Minister [[w:Costas Karamanlis|Costas Karamanlis]] was to for an emergency meeting of the senior ministers in the country's capital, Athens. Karamanlis said, "This is a day of national mourning...I wish to express my deep grief over the lost lives...We are fighting against heavy odds, on many fronts and under particularly tough conditions."

Greece's government yesterday asked its [[European Union]] allies for help. About 30 countries are offering support, according to an EU statement.

New fires were reportedly still breaking out this morning.

Some helicopters and airplanes, which were to drop water on the fires, continued to be delayed by strong winds.

== Sources ==
{{Wikipedia|2007 Greek fires}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6963964.stm
|title=Fires prompt Greek national alert
|author=
|pub=BBC
|date=August 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6963373.stm
|title=Death toll mounts in Greek fires
|author=
|pub=BBC
|date=August 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/13973551/detail.html
|title=Massive Forest Fires Kill 37 In Greece
|author=AP
|pub=WTAE-TV
|date=August 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/08/25/greece.fires/index.html
|title=41 die as fires ravage Greece
|author=CNN
|pub=CNN
|date=August 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/fas/?Europe_3_03/2007237/Europe_3_03.2007237.aqua.1km.jpg
|title=Satellite View of Fires
|author=
|pub=NASA
|date=August 25, 2007}}

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[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Greece]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Fires]]
[[Category:Athens, Greece]]
[[Category:Arson]]

[[es:Incendios en Grecia dejan más de 41 muertos]]
[[it:Grecia: ancora emergenza incendi, 50 morti]]
[[pl:Grecja: cały czas trwają pożary]]
Forest fires burn in Greece. 
In southern Greece today, huge forest fires continue to burn on destroying homes and causing severe damage to the region. Local fire departments put the current death toll at at least 37, nine of which were children.

Since Friday morning, around 170 fires have been burning, many of which are believed to be caused by arson. Authorities are calling the fires "criminal acts." Fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis said most of the fires were started in entirely different areas, and were started after dark. Some fires reportedly broke out in "lush greenery."

Keratea, as it is seen from Markopoulo Mesogaias
27 deaths have been confirmed in Peloponnese, one of the hardest hit areas. Today, however, fires broke out near Athens.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was to for an emergency meeting of the senior ministers in the country's capital, Athens. Karamanlis said, "This is a day of national mourning...I wish to express my deep grief over the lost lives...We are fighting against heavy odds, on many fronts and under particularly tough conditions."

Greece's government yesterday asked its European Union allies for help. About 30 countries are offering support, according to an EU statement.

New fires were reportedly still breaking out this morning.

Some helicopters and airplanes, which were to drop water on the fires, continued to be delayed by strong winds.

es:Incendios en Grecia dejan más de 41 muertos
it:Grecia: ancora emergenza incendi, 50 morti
pl:Grecja: cały czas trwają pożary
Disasters and accidents Greece Europe Fires Athens, Greece Arson