Barroso promises EU aid for Greek fire victims

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso toured fire damaged areas in southern Greece by helicopter today, and promised aid to relieve areas where 64 people died and an estimated 190,000 hectares (469,000 acres) of forest and farmland were destroyed.

“We are with you and we will stay with you … we will do everything we can to support Greece,” Barroso said after a two-hour tour of the ravaged Peloponnese peninsula with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

“The Greek problem is a European problem … Now we must rebuild what has been destroyed.”

On Friday, the European Union said Greece would probably receive €200m in emergency aid and could be eligible for another €400m, after the government issues an official assessment of the damage – currently estimated at more than €1.2bn.

All major fires in the Peloponnese and the island of Evia have been generally contained since Wednesday – after burning for a week – but firefighters continue to battle nightly rekindled blazes that have destroyed more homes and forced village evacuations.

Fire Service spokesman Nikos Diamantidis said weather conditions were set to worsen Saturday, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

“This is a particularly difficult and dangerous day, with winds set to strengthen. This combined with high temperatures requires a high degree of activity from the (Fire Service),” Diamantidis said.