Wildfires are common during the summer months in Greece. Contributing factors include hot temperatures, drought, winds and sometimes arson.
By late August 2009 over 100 wildfires burned across Greece, driven by wind gusts. 20,000 people were forced to evacuate from Athens suburbs and several homes were destroyed. On August 23, 2009, Greece declared a state of emergency in the Athens area and enlisted the help of the European Union to help control the fires.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/world/europe/24greece.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/08/23/greece.wildfires/
Thousands flee raging Athens fires: August 2009
Featured Image
Fires raging behind the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. August 2009. Getty Images
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Wildfires are common in Greece during the summer
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In 2007 a deadly wildfire tore through the island of Evia and western Peloponnese killing 65 people
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By the end of August 2009 over 30,000 acres were destroyed in Greece
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A state of emergency was declared in the Athens area on August 23, 2009
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