ATHENS—Strong winds continue to spread fires throughout Greece; 53 have died so far. As of Saturday night, fires were burning in 75 different locations throughout the nation.
The sky in Athens has turned gray and the smell of smoke is everywhere. Peloponese, Evia island and suburbs of Athens have seen the most severe damage. Many people are being evacuated. The Prime Minister has declared a nationwide emergency.
As manpower is limited, fire fighters have made saving lives as the top priority, and many houses are left to burn as the fires keep spreading. Since Friday, fires have broken out in 124 separate locations around Greece; three-quarters of them are still burning.
Ancient Olympia, the original home of the Olympics, is also in flames.
PM of Greece Says Fires No Coincidence
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said that having so many fires in different places at the same time is not a coincidence, and that the criminals would soon be found and punished. At the time being, 4 people were arrested on the suspicion of committing arson.
Greece has welcomed the help from other countries such as Holland, France, Israel and others. A bank account will soon be opened to enable people to donate money for the victims.
Greeks are treating the fires as the biggest catastrophe the country has known. Since the start of the summer Greece had lost lots of forested lands, which were regarded as the "green lungs" of Greece. Farmlands and animals have also been consumed by the flames.
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