[MSN] Fires wreak destruction in Greece for a fourth day

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Fires wreak destruction in Greece for a fourth day 
 Thirty villages evacuated as answers are sought on cause of worst ever
blazes 
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_28/08/2007_871
83


Eurokinissi
An elderly resident of the village of Petrina in Arcadia chokes in thick
smoke as flames from a fire closed in on his community yesterday. 

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_28/08/2007_871
83

 
Panayiotis Tzamaros/Icon
A rescue worker (above) helps evacuate the village of Frixa, in the
fire-ravaged prefecture of Ileia, yesterday. Firemen (right) struggle to
control a huge blaze that engulfed forestland near the village of
Andritsaina. The charred site of Ancient Olympia (bottom) is pictured
yesterday following Sunday's devastating blaze that did not damage the
museum or artifacts.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_28/08/2007_871
83
 
Wildfires continued to ravage the Peloponnese and other parts of the country
yesterday for a fourth day as thousands of villagers fled their homes and
the official death toll from the unprecedented blazes climbed to 63.

Firefighters and army conscripts, aided by foreign volunteers, fought blazes
in the Peloponnesian prefectures of Ileia, Arcadia and Messinia and on the
island of Evia as rescue workers scrambled to evacuate some 30 villages
encircled by flames.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out on the slopes of Athens's Mount Hymettus, part
of which has already been ravaged by a blaze on Saturday. The fire service
was quick to send four planes, a helicopter and 15 trucks to extinguish the
blaze which was burning forestland near the northeastern suburb of Papagou.
But other fires proved more difficult to control.

Late last night fires were still burning in Ileia, with the areas of
Krestena and Andritsaina the worst affected. "These fires were started by
the Zacharo blaze which has spread in several directions, destroying
everything," a senior fire service official told Kathimerini. "They have
been impossible to curb," he said.

Large fires were also burning last night in Amaliada and Oleni. One of the
worst blazes was in the village of Frixa where residents telephoned
television stations to appeal for help as they waited for helicopters to
arrive and airlift them to safety.

Super Puma helicopters evacuated dozens of people from these villages. But
some citizens, particularly elderly residents, were reluctant to leave their
homes.

Serious blazes also hit the prefecture of Arcadia and a large fire in Evia
split into four fronts, spreading menacingly.

The site of Ancient Olympia, which was struck by fire on Sunday, was
yesterday said to be "safe" but flames ravaged nearby villages yesterday.
The museum, temples and stadiums have not been damaged by fire, authorities
say.

The fires that have torn through Greece since Friday are believed to have
left hundreds of people homeless. Hospitals in fire-affected areas have been
providing temporary accommodation to citizens whose homes have been
destroyed.

Prosecutor Dimitris Papangelopoulous yesterday ordered a preliminary
investigation into whether the fires could have been the work of terrorists.

The government has hinted at this theory and the anti-terrorist squad has
been called in to look for evidence that might point to an organized plan on
behalf of the alleged arsonists.

However, intelligence sources told Kathimerini yesterday that there was no
evidence so far to suggest that domestic or foreign terrorists were behind
the fires. The possibility that anarchists might have been involved is also
being discounted, according to sources.

Although 79 people have been detained, only seven have been charged with
arson in connection to the fires that have broken out since Friday. A
65-year-old man who has been charged with arson and multiple murder over the
fire near the Peloponnesian town of Areopolis was yesterday given two days
to prepare his defense.

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos insisted that the increased
number of fires and their locations was suspicious.

"The government is not trying to imply anything but is simply wondering the
same thing as every Greek," he said.

He insisted that the fire and civil protection services had done all they
could to put out the fires. He also defended the decision not to deploy the
army, saying that soldiers are not trained to be firefighters and it would
be too risky to use them in that role.

In a televised address last night, PASOK leader George Papandreou accused
the government of implying that the Socialists were embroiled in the fires
and called on Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to immediately produce any
evidence that would indicate there was an organized plan to start the
blazes.

Karamanlis met with President Karolos Papoulias and said there were no plans
to change the date of the September 16 general election.

"Immediately after the election there will be generous programs for the
reconstruction of all the areas," he told Papoulias.

The president emphasized that those affected also needed psychological
support.
 
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83