Northern Greek forest fire "brought under control"

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Tuesday August 22, 2006

Athens- A forest fire in the northern Greek peninsula of Halkidiki Tuesday was brought under control in a massive firefighting operation using planes and helicopters, Greek Civil Defence chief Panagiotis Fourlas said on Greek state radio. "We are optimistic that we will have put the fire out completely within the next few hours," he said.

A German tourist died earlier Tuesday as he was fleeing the fire. He fell in the sea and drowned as he was trying to get onto a boat, fire service chief Andreas Kois said. He had just managed to help his wife and child onto the boat. His identity was not immediately known.

Some 40 people were brought to hospital suffering from burns and breathing difficulties, local media reported.

Hundreds of inhabitants and tourists fled their houses, hotels and tents overnight as the flames approached, the reports said.

"Chaos broke out. The people, including tourists, ran in panic towards the sea to escape the flames and smoke. Children screamed, and the electricity failed. We could see nothing. It was a nightmare," one lady from the village of Hanioti said.

"Hundreds of houses, dozens of hotels and guest houses have been destroyed. Hundreds of pets and wild animals have perished," the prefect of the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, Panagiotis Psomiadis, told Greek television.

"The flames were spreading like lightning. The fire service couldn't do anything," he said.

The interior ministry declared the area affected by the wildfires an emergency zone; troops have been ordered to assist the overstretched fire services.

Six fire-fighting aircraft and three helicopters were deployed after daybreak to drop water on the fires.

"We hope to be able to bring the fire under control in the next few hours with the airborne help," the local fire chief said on Greek television.

Police said the forest fire broke out after lightning struck the area in several places, but tghere have also been claims by residents that the cause was arson instigated by land speculators.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur