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Porto Germeno residents recount wildfire devastation: 'Everything around us is burned'
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Porto Germeno residents recount wildfire devastation: 'Everything around us is burned'

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Residents returning to Porto Germeno and Psatha areas describe widespread devastation from recent wildfires.
  • Many homes and olive groves were destroyed, with one settlement reportedly 90% burned.
  • Residents expressed despair over the loss of livelihoods and the destruction of natural landscapes, calling it a "strong lung" of Attica.

Residents returning to the fire-ravaged areas of Porto Germeno and Psatha are confronting scenes of utter devastation, with many finding their homes and livelihoods reduced to ashes. Sultana Loukidou and her husband, Babis Rizogiannis, who had worked for 35 years in the textile industry, described their harrowing experience upon returning to assess the damage.

Everything around us is burned – the efforts of ordinary people are lost.

— Sultana LoukidouA resident described the widespread destruction after returning to her home in Porto Germeno.

"Everything around us is burned – the efforts of ordinary people are lost," they told Orange Press, their voices filled with anguish. While their own home was spared at the last moment, the surrounding landscape has been transformed into a wasteland. "The forests, the olive trees are all burned. A part of our neighborhood was spared, but the rest has turned to ash. Especially in the settlement 'Aspra Spitia,' 90% is burned. It has turned to charcoal," they recounted, describing the immense scale of the destruction.

The forests, the olive trees are all burned. A part of our neighborhood was spared, but the rest has turned to ash. Especially in the settlement 'Aspra Spitia,' 90% is burned. It has turned to charcoal.

— Babis RizogiannisLoukidou's husband detailed the extent of the fire's damage to their community.

The couple noted that the area, which had remained untouched by a fire in 2009, became fertile ground for the current blaze. They expressed deep sorrow for the affected residents, many of whom are daily wage earners. "Unfortunately, the people there are daily laborers, they are ordinary people. And all this that has happened is a sin," they lamented.

Unfortunately, the people there are daily laborers, they are ordinary people. And all this that has happened is a sin.

— Sultana LoukidouResidents expressed sorrow over the impact of the fires on the livelihoods of ordinary people.

Despite mobilization efforts, extreme weather conditions and constantly shifting winds hampered firefighters' progress, forcing some residents to take matters into their own hands to save what they could. "There are many forces, but extinguishing [the fire] in the area is impossible, people can do nothing," residents reported, describing terrifying flare-ups near their homes that they had to combat themselves. They concluded with a dramatic plea, stating, "Porto Germeno is all destroyed. A very strong lung. The best lung of Attica is destroyed, children. What a shame."

There are many forces, but extinguishing [the fire] in the area is impossible, people can do nothing.

— ResidentsResidents described the challenges faced by firefighters and the community in combating the blaze.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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