Greece reeling under severe conditions and several parts of country on high alert

Greece is reeling under severe conditions and several parts of the country are on high alert as extreme temperatures and high winds threaten to trigger more devastating wildfires. Currently enduring longest heatwave in history, Greece is battling with temperatures predicted to reach a staggering 50-year high.

Extreme fire risk warnings have been issued for several regions in southern Greece, including around Athens.  Earlier commenting on the causes of the fires, Vassilis Kikilias, the Greek minister of the climate crisis and civil protection had told the media that the majority of the fires were ignited by human hands, either by criminal negligence or intent.

Global warming and man-made reasons



apart from rising wind speeds are the reasons why the Greek people are witnessing such bad times. The capital has seen searing temperatures over summer this week, and, they will hover close to 40-degree Celsius. Dozens of fires broke out at the weekend, prompting thousands of residents to be evacuated. One of the worst fire fronts is near the port city of Alexandroupoli, close to the northeastern border with Turkey. Several people have been evacuated by authorities for safety.  

A climate science expert said, Greece has been among the worst-affected Mediterranean countries by climate change, which has caused severe drought and massive wildfires in recent months.