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Photo taken on August 24, 2009 shows the
fire-stricken mountain in a town in northern Athens, capital of Greece.
Greek fire brigade officials on Monday afternoon appeared confident that
efforts to extinguish the last remaining wildfires in Attica prefecture
would be successful by nightfall, with the emphasis now shifting to
preventing any rekindling of fires. (Xinhua/Kostas Tsiolas)
Photo Gallery>>> |
ATHENS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Greek
government has decided to step up measures to protect the areas devastated by
the recent wildfires in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
A satellite surveillance system will be set up to shield the
charred areas from trespassers, said Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias.
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This NASA handout shows a satellite
image of smoke trails from the fires consuming several parts of the Greek
capital of Athens, Aug. 23, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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Souflias said that anti-corrosion
works will also commence as soon as possible. "We shall get to work immediately.
All services and officials must coordinate themselves and I believe that with
the help of all we shall be able to confront this great ecological disaster," he
said.
It was stressing for residents to see the flames devouring their
properties, said government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros. "We will stand by
them in any way we can," he said.
Wildfires that lasted for four days in the country's Northern Attica region
have charred thousands of hectares of forests and forced many to abandon homes.
Wildfires near Athens finally recede
ATHENS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The wildfires that
ravaged near Athens were nearly extinguished on Tuesday thanks to multinational
airborne efforts.
"We have no more fires in the greater Athens area," a
spokeswoman for the Greek Fire Brigade told Xinhua. Full story
Wildfires near Athens recede as wind
eases
ATHENS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters battling the
wildfires that charred large swathes of forests and forced thousands to flee
homes gained the upper hand by Monday afternoon.
The declining wind had been helpful and it was hoped
that the last remaining wildfires in Attica prefecture would be put out by
nightfall, said authorities. Full
story
Wildfires in Greece mostly under
control
ATHENS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Greek fire brigade
officials on Monday afternoon appeared confident that efforts to extinguish the
last remaining wildfires in Attica prefecture would be successful by nightfall,
with the emphasis now shifting to preventing any rekindling of fires.
Officials from the Greek Fire Brigade press center
told Xinhua that there was no active fire front in Attiki on Monday, but they
still have the armed force there as the danger of rekindling exists. Full story
