Greece's firefighting mechanism at its limit amid severe wildfires, minister warns

Greece's firefighting forces are stretched to their limits as multiple wildfires rage across the country, exacerbated by strong winds and extreme weather conditions. Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evaggelos Tournas issued an urgent appeal to the public on Saturday, urging them to exercise the utmost caution.

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The stormy winds significantly hampered the work of aerial firefighting, as aerial means could not carry out water drops or water collection safely.

Tournas highlighted the severe challenges faced by aerial firefighting units. "The stormy winds significantly hampered the work of aerial firefighting, as aerial means could not carry out water drops or water collection safely," he stated. This difficulty in aerial operations puts greater pressure on ground crews.

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Multiple incidents combined with extreme weather conditions have pushed the mechanism to its limits.

"Multiple incidents combined with extreme weather conditions have pushed the mechanism to its limits," Tournas emphasized. He noted that the continuous fires and harsh weather are placing immense strain on operational forces. "In this effort, no one is superfluous," he added, calling on all citizens to contribute to protecting lives, the environment, and property by strictly following authorities' instructions and avoiding any actions that could spark a fire.

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In this effort, no one is superfluous.

The minister expressed gratitude to the Fire Service, Armed Forces, Security Corps, forestry services, local government, and volunteers for their "truly titanic struggle" on the fire fronts. The ongoing fires underscore the vulnerability of Greece to extreme weather events and the critical need for public vigilance during such periods.

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truly titanic struggle