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Firefighters 'quell Greek blazes' | Firefighters 'quell Greek blazes' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Firefighters have beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside, officials say. | Firefighters have beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside, officials say. |
Blazes continue to rage in the gutted Peloponnese region and Evia island, but emergency crews say they are "generally receding" and have been contained. | Blazes continue to rage in the gutted Peloponnese region and Evia island, but emergency crews say they are "generally receding" and have been contained. |
The government has called for national unity, but faces growing anger at its handling of the crisis, with crowds due to gather in Athens later to protest. | The government has called for national unity, but faces growing anger at its handling of the crisis, with crowds due to gather in Athens later to protest. |
At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. | At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. |
Fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. | Fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. |
I've been coming here for the last 15 years on holiday with my children. It was a paradise here and now it is hell Fire survivor Economic toll of Greece fires Greeks face fire dilemma Counting the fires' eco-cost | I've been coming here for the last 15 years on holiday with my children. It was a paradise here and now it is hell Fire survivor Economic toll of Greece fires Greeks face fire dilemma Counting the fires' eco-cost |
But he was upbeat in his assessment of the current blazes, saying: "We are optimistic about the outcome of our fight against the fires. | But he was upbeat in his assessment of the current blazes, saying: "We are optimistic about the outcome of our fight against the fires. |
"They are now limited and there is no danger of them spreading." | "They are now limited and there is no danger of them spreading." |
It is feared that the hot, dry winds that have help to spread the flames from region to region could return and rekindle the fires. | It is feared that the hot, dry winds that have help to spread the flames from region to region could return and rekindle the fires. |
Many of the communities devastated over the weekend are just starting to count the cost. | Many of the communities devastated over the weekend are just starting to count the cost. |
In the tiny village of Frixa on the Peloponnesian peninsula, acrid smoke continued to swirl around the charred olive groves and farmland. | In the tiny village of Frixa on the Peloponnesian peninsula, acrid smoke continued to swirl around the charred olive groves and farmland. |
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm', '1188386836', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=353,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Satellite images show how the spread of the fires is changing href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm', '1188386836', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=353,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image | |
"Everything we had has gone. We had oil, we lived off the olives. Its all gone," 77-year-old Athanassia Kazakopoulou told Reuters news agency. | "Everything we had has gone. We had oil, we lived off the olives. Its all gone," 77-year-old Athanassia Kazakopoulou told Reuters news agency. |
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has pledged to act fast in restoring power to devastated villages and rebuilding houses. | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has pledged to act fast in restoring power to devastated villages and rebuilding houses. |
His government has also started to give out instant compensation to those affected. | His government has also started to give out instant compensation to those affected. |
A general election, planned for 16 September, has helped to politicise the crisis, with the opposition Socialist Party being heavily critical of the government. | A general election, planned for 16 September, has helped to politicise the crisis, with the opposition Socialist Party being heavily critical of the government. |
I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments | I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments |
The Socialists described the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". | The Socialists described the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". |
The authorities believe some of the fires were started deliberately, and more than 30 people have been arrested so far. | The authorities believe some of the fires were started deliberately, and more than 30 people have been arrested so far. |
A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. | A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. |
There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared with just 52 in of 2006. | There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared with just 52 in of 2006. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
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