Greek firefighters battle two new blazes broke out near Athens and on island of Evia.
The first broke out on Monday morning on Evia, while the second fire was burning in the Vilia area northwest of Athens.
Greece’s fire department had scrambled firefighting helicopters, water bombers, and ground forces to assist with the effort.
In total, Greece lost more than 116,000 hectares since the end of July.
Hundreds of homes and small businesses have been destroyed in Evia, in parts of the Peloponnese, and on the outskirts of the capital.
Two people, including a volunteer firefighter, have died this summer. At least four others have been hospitalised with burn injuries.
Civil protection authorities had warned that Greece was at “high risk” of fires in several parts of the country.
Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events.
Authority Failure
However, local residents decried lack of the government support to avoid the damages.
In Rovies, as in other villages across the island, residents said the government failed to protect their homes and the forest.
Many of those evacuated decried the delied support from the government.
A fire brigade official said he understood the anger of people who lost their homes.
But, he said firefighters had done all they could.
“All firefighters, all fire engines were in the fronts from the beginning,” the offical saidز
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has publicly apologised for delays in the firefighting effort.
Therefore, he announced 500-million-euro ($587 million) relief package, while defending his government’s action.
“I want to tell them that I completely understand what they feel, both the pain and the disappointment, and the desperation,” he told a news conference on Thursday.
“I want to tell them they will not be unassisted. The state will be close to them.”
