The Greek government is under pressure after a wildfire destroyed nearly 400 square kilometers of land in Athens’ suburbs. The left-wing opposition party Syriza has criticized the government’s response to the fire, which started this week.
Syriza wants the government to explain how the blaze spread to Athens’ metropolitan areas. They want GPS data from firefighting aircraft and Civil Protection Body emergency meeting documents for transparency. The Greek media, like the party, blames the government for mismanaging the crisis.
Although the fire, which killed one woman and damaged property, has been contained, lesser fires continue to burn. Despite firefighters’ efforts, the fire quickly spread into residential zones, calling into question current wildfire prevention and response tactics.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has acknowledged the climate crisis to counter criticism. Mitsotakis congratulated firefighters and stressed the need for disaster management improvement at an air station near Athens. He told the people that the government is providing interest-free financing for property repairs and tax relief for households and businesses.
Critics say these efforts are insufficient. They say the government’s reaction has prioritized damage control above addressing wildfire causes or averting future disasters. With many fire-stricken homes uninhabitable, the government is under pressure to establish stronger wildfire protection techniques.
Greece is still grappling with the wildfire and its natural disaster preparedness in an era of rising climate hazards.
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