In northeastern Greece, near the village of Provatonas, goat breeder Kleanthis Raptis experienced a devastating loss when a deadly wildfire ravaged his stable, resulting in the death of most of his livestock. This wildfire has been burning for over two weeks, and despite the efforts of aircraft and hundreds of firefighters, it has proven difficult to contain. It is regarded as Europe’s deadliest wildfire this summer, causing the destruction of homes, claiming the lives of at least 20 people, and scorching the lush forests of the protected Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli park.
Heartbroken, Raptis, 56, lamented the destruction saying, “We’re finished, we’re finished,” as he surveyed the damage caused by the fire. The stable’s tin roofing had been knocked down, leaving behind a scene of devastation. “There is nothing left behind. Thirty-five animals were lost, they were burned,” he expressed. He further added, “The rest have burns and we don’t know if they can survive.” In the midst of the ruins, the charred body of a goat lay on the scorched ground, while Raptis examined a surviving goat that exhibited burns on its ear.
Remarkably, Raptis had managed to save all his livestock when another fire engulfed Evros last year, but this time, the latest blaze dealt a devastating blow. He recounted, “The same happened five days ago but we had made it on time, we saved them. Yesterday it was a complete destruction.”
Greece is no stranger to summer wildfires, which are common in the Mediterranean nation. However, this year they have been particularly severe due to the extremely dry, windy, and hot conditions that scientists attribute to climate change. The worsening conditions have forced thousands of evacuations.
According to fire brigade spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios, the blaze is largely contained as of Sunday, although additional evacuations occurred overnight. However, he warned that it could flare up again at any moment.
Raptis expressed hope that the state would provide some form of assistance, stating, “There is no other way. How are we going to get through?”
(Writing by Angeliki Koutantou, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
