2007 Greek forest fires

2007 Greek forest fires
Animation showing fires in southern Greece (22–26 August 2007), from NASA satellite images.
Date(s)28 June 2007[1] - 3 September 2007[2]
LocationGreece:
Peloponnese, Attica and Euboea
Statistics
Burned area270,000 hectares (2700km²), 670,000 acres
Impacts
DeathsJune: 9[3]
July: 5[4]
August: 67[4]
September: 4[5]
Total: 85
Non-fatal injuriesExact number unknown - number believed to be several dozen people.
Ignition
Causeheat wave, arson,[6] and wind

The 2007 Greek forest fires were a series of massive forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece throughout the summer of 2007. The most destructive and lethal infernos broke out on 23 August, expanded rapidly and raged out of control until 27 August, until they were finally put out in early September. The fires mainly affected western and southern Peloponnese as well as southern Euboea. The death toll in August alone stood at 67 people.[5] In total 85 people lost their lives because of the fires, including several fire fighters.[3][4][5]

Some of these firestorms are believed to be the result of arson while others were merely the result of negligence.[6] Hot temperatures, including three consecutive heat waves of over 40 °C (105 °F),[7] and severe drought rendered the 2007 summer unprecedented in modern Greek history.[3] From the end of June to early September, over 3,000 forest fires were recorded across the nation.[3] Nine more people were killed in blazes in June and July.[3]

A total of 2,700 square kilometers (670,000 acres) of forest, olive groves and farmland were destroyed in the fires, which was the worst fire season on record in the past 50 years.[8][9] Of the total of 2,700 km2, 1,500 km2 (370,000 acres) were burnt forests in Southern Greece alone which meant that 4% of Greece's total forest area burnt in 2007 alone.[8][10] Many buildings were also destroyed in the blaze. The fire destroyed 1,000 houses and 1,100 other buildings, and damaged hundreds more.[11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference first was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference pliroforiodotis.grSep3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e Carassava, Anthee (25 August 2007). "Greece declares emergency as forest fires rage". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference greeksreplant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Αλλος ένας νεκρός από τις καταστροφικές πυρκαγιές του Αυγούστου (in Greek). in.gr. Athens News Agency. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference crime was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Hints of relief in European heat wave, but more flooding in Britain". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Greek government calls for faster action on replanting of burnt forests". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 23 October 2007.
  9. ^ "Greek forests severely damaged by summer fires". World Wide Fund for Nature. panda.org. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  10. ^ "Greece Forest area, 1960-2020 - knoema.com". Knoema. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference lives was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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