The Greek authorities are investigating whether wildfires that threatened to engulf Athens were sparked by a single arsonist.
Civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said officials verified indications that the fire near Athens was the result of arson as well as extreme weather conditions.
A fire service spokesman has said the force is struggling to deal with the spate of blazes, adding: “Almost every 10 minutes a new fire breaks out.”
In Koropi, a storage facility and at least one home were burned, and flames crept into a boat dry dock and across fields of dry grass and olive trees. Authorities evacuated two nearby villages.
Amid the heatwave, several foreign tourists have died or gone missing while hiking in high temperatures. The girlfriend of a missing American tourist has criticised Greek authorities for allegedly doing little to help search for him.
Albert Calibet, 59, has been missing since last Tuesday while hiking on the island of Amorgos.
At least five tourists have been found dead on the Greek Islands in recent weeks.
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Greek commander says he ‘can’t remember anything like it’
Concern has mounted among the Greek emergency services that foreign tourists are not being properly informed of the risks posed by hiking in such high temperatures.
“In all my years in the police service, overseeing such operations, I can’t remember anything like it,” said one commander on Syros.
“But we have to bear in mind that this has been the hottest June ever and all of these people decided to go out hiking. You can’t arrest someone for deciding to take a walk, and you can’t force them to stay indoors, you can only hope that while on holiday tourists will have their wits about them in such heat.”
Greek locals growing frustrated with hiking tourists
Greek locals are reportedly growing frustrated with tourists “underestimating” the extreme heat as five holidaymakers are confirmed dead.
A documentary filmmaker living in Greece told the i that tourists in Athens don’t know the intensity of the heat and said she often sees tourists hiking in temperatures that locals wouldn’t do exercise in.
“There is a sense of frustration among locals [at British tourists] but also they feel very sorry, very sad. They do not want [tourists’ deaths] to happen – it is also bad for them as a tourist destination,” she said.
Girlfriend of missing hiker criticises Greek authorities search efforts
The girlfriend of a missing American tourist has criticised Greek authorities for their search efforts, accusing them of acting on the bare minimum to find her partner.
Albert Calibet, 59, has been missing on the island of Amorgos since last Tuesday after setting off for a four-hour hike. An experienced walker, the former deputy at LA Sheriff’s Department had left his accommodation at 7am but failed to answer his mobile phone.
“I’m totally disgusted with the way we’ve been treated,” his partner Debbie Leshane told The New York Post. “Albert has been a first responder since he was 25 years old. Everybody deserves to be searched for. But he really, honestly deserves it.”
She and his relatives have travelled to the island themselves to form their own rescue team, after local authorities only flew a helicopter in the air for two hours.
Promises to bring in drones, sniffer dogs and more helicopter searches have been unfulfilled with the family’s attempts to pay for further assistance has allegedly been rebuffed.
The UK Foreign Office offers wildfire advice to tourists
The UK Foreign Office has the following advice:
“Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly. Follow “112 Greece” on X (formerly known as Twitter) for official updates.
“You should:
- take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas
- make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished
- not light barbecues
“Causing a forest fire is treated as a criminal offence in Greece even if unintentional. If you see a forest fire, call the emergency services on 112. Forest fires can also cause travel disruption in wider areas.
“Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires. You should:
- follow the guidance of the emergency services
- call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if you are in immediate danger
- contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK.
- enable the “Emergency Alerts” option to receive the Greek government’s emergency alerts. For:
- iPhones go to Settings > Notification. Enable the “Emergency Alerts” option at the bottom.
- Android 11 and higher go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts
- Samsung Devices go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications. Enable the “Emergency Alerts” option
- read the Greek Government’s protection guidelines in the event of a forest fire.
- register via the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service (in Greek)
“For further information on the risk of forest fires, visit the Civil Protection website.”
Three hikers remain missing on Greek islands
Local police are searching for at least three tourists across two Greek islands amid soaring temperatures.
American holidaymaker Albert Calibet, 59, has been missing since last Tuesday while hiking on the island of Amorgos.
Two French women, aged 73 and 64, have also been missing since last Friday on the island of Sikinos.
Accidentally starting a fire now a criminal act - minister says
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias warned in a social media post that even accidentally sparking a fire in volatile conditions has become a criminal act.
He was commenting on the arrest of a 30-year-old Greek man on Tuesday for starting a wildfire in Nigrita, Serres.
Announcing the arrest, Kikilias said that the 30-year-old “confessed that while carrying out agricultural work, he caused the dangerous fire we faced in Nigrita, Serres.”
He added “the law has been made stricter and negligence constitutes a criminal act.”
Tourists warned of heatstroke risks after a number die or go missing
Dimitris Katatzis, head of the Samos rescue team, said tourists are unaware of the risks they face walking in the heat. Saying they often “veer off track” to see sites and then get lost. “We saw a couple [of foreigners] walking a trail in 41C without hats,” he told local media. “It defies logic.”
Dr Mohit Mandiratta, resident GP on BBC Breakfast, has warned of the complications even the healthiest people can face in the heat. He told The Independent: “Heat can affect anyone, including fit and healthy people, and be very serious if not treated immediately.
“It can come on quickly, over minutes, or gradually over hours, so it’s important we all stay alert to symptoms.”
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your core body temperature reaches 40C or higher and must be treated immediately.
Common symptoms of heat exhaustion as tourists die while hiking in Greece
Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
· A headache
· Dizziness and confusion
· Loss of appetite and feeling sick
· Excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
· Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
· Fast breathing or pulse
· A high temperature of 38C or above
· Extreme thirst
New forest fire breaks out
Another forest fire has broken out in Greece following a spate of blazes amid soaring heat.
The Hellenic Rescue Team said that ten firefighters had been sent to fight a large fire that had broken out in the Argolida area.
Brother of missing American tourist criticises US efforts
The brother of American tourist Albert Calibet who has been missing for over a week on the island of Amorgos, Greece, says chances are very slim he will find the missing former police officer.
In a tearful YouTube video Oliver Calibet, who arrived from California last week to join the search operation, said that Greece is doing what it can with its limited resources, but “I don’t know why the US can’t come here and help. The US is doing nothing.”
He continued: “I’m flabbergasted. This is a small little island. He should have been found days ago if the US had put in a little, a tiny little effort.”
