Greece’s minister for climate crisis and civil protection, Evangelos Tournas, said on Saturday that multiple simultaneous wildfires combined with extreme weather conditions have pushed the country’s emergency response mechanism to its limits.
Tournas said the day began with eleven active fires still engaging fire service units from the previous day. Very strong to stormy winds have created exceptionally difficult conditions, he said, in many cases preventing aircraft from taking on water or making drops due to severe turbulence despite the continuous efforts of their crews.
The minister thanked firefighters, armed forces, security corps, forestry services, local government and volunteers for what he described as a truly titanic struggle.
Tournas urged citizens to avoid any actions that could start a fire, warning that under such conditions even the smallest incident could lead to disaster. He also called on the public to follow the instructions of authorities and the messages issued through the 112 emergency alert system, saying the protection of life is the primary priority.
