Greece has experienced an unprecedented wave of 667 fires, most of which were reportedly started by human actions, that’s according to the country’s senior climate crisis official.
The fires, which sparked across the country at an average rate of 60 per day, started during an unprecedented 15-day heatwave. The minister of climate crisis and civil protection indicated that most of the fires resulted from either negligence or intent, with suspicions of arson in some cases due to multiple fires being ignited in close proximity simultaneously.
The impact of these fires has been devastating with three reported deaths, 74 injuries, and tens of thousands, mainly tourists, evacuated. Some experts warn that the situation could worsen annually due to the climate crisis, stressing on the need to review strategies and rejuvenate the devastated forest ecosystems. Adapting to the new reality and implementing preventive measures could cost Greece up to 700 Billion Euros, or 771 Billion Dollars.
