Greek officials criticised for response to fires

WITH a massive wildfire now contained after raging for two days near Athens, the Greek government was facing a different kind of firestorm yesterday as media lambasted its response.

Firefighters patrolled smouldering areas north and east of the capital yesterday, guarding against flare-ups while assessing the damage.

At least 150 homes have burned down officials said, while tens of thousands of acres of pine forest, olive grove, brush and farmland have been decimated.

Experts warned it would take generations to replace the forests and that many were burnt beyond the hope of natural regrowth.

Officials have not said how the fire was started.

The conservative government defended its effort in fighting the fire, which involved water-dropping aircraft from Italy, Cyprus and France.

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said yesterday the effort had been “well-co-ordinated”, but he did not comment on any specific criticisms. The cabinet was meeting yesterday to discuss possible relief measures for those whose homes were damaged. Greek newspapers said the government had learned nothing from 2007 wildfires, and had failed to improve fire protection measures and equipment from two years ago.

“Fatal errors and omissions,” the conservative daily Kathimerini said. “The same mistakes were repeated all over.” Opposition papers were even more critical. The daily Eleftherotypia headlined one story on the fires with “The Criminal State”. !In a scathing editorial, Ta Nea faulted the government’s rejection of help from some countries such as Russia. Media had reported a Russian offer of aircraft to help the firefighting effort was turned down, as was an offer from Austria to send six helicopters, and that no new equipment had been purchased in the past five years. The Greek government has not commented on these reports.