希臘南部近來森林大火肆虐,幾天來已導致至少62人死亡,為此希臘總理也在近日發表了全國性的緊急聲明。
受到盛行季風吹拂的影響,伯羅奔尼撒半島上的森林已被大火吞沒,位於半島西部的許多村鎮已被迫撤離,該地區的道路也都被封鎖,對外通訊中斷。
26日在伊梅托斯山坡上所發生的森林大火,讓雅典大部分地區淹沒在濃煙之中,所幸目前消防員已將火勢撲滅。當地官員在起火地點發現碎布及小型瓦斯罐後,懷疑起火原因是人為縱火。目前希臘警方已在全國逮捕7名縱火嫌犯。
位於伯羅奔尼撒半島西部伊利亞區的奧林匹亞,是2800年前舉辦首屆奧林匹亞運動會的遺跡,而此處在26日也受到大火波及。
希臘政府已出動飛機空中灑水和噴灑滅火化學物品,當地居民和考古學家也都主動參與救火行動,試圖控制火勢。
Wildfires are raging out control across southern Greece, killing at least 62 people over the past few days and prompting the prime minister to declare a nationwide state of emergency.
Fanned by high winds, flames engulfed forests on the mountainous Peloponnese peninsula, while dozens of villages in the peninsula's western region were evacuated, roads were closed and communications disrupted.
A wildfire on the slopes of Mount Hymettus, blanketed the greater Athens area with white smoke and soot Sunday. Firefighters have now extinguished the blaze. Local officials suspect arson after discovering rags and small gas canisters at the site where the fire broke out. Across the country, police have arrested seven people in connection with the fires.
On Sunday, fires scorched the edges of the site where the Olympic games first took place some 2,800 years ago - Olympia in Ilia prefecture in the western Peloponnese
Aircraft dropped water and fire suppressant chemicals, while residents and archaeologists joined firefighters in trying to hold back the flames.
全文及圖片詳見 ENS