Unprecedented wildfire ravages Greece's Evros region, marking EU's worst blaze on record

Originating to the north of the coastal city of Alexandroupolis, the fire joined forces with smaller blazes, coalescing into a colossal conflagration. This devastating amalgamation not only obliterated homes but also forced the evacuation of numerous villages and even the local hospital.

Tragically, the wildfire has exacted a heavy toll, claiming the lives of 18 migrants. In a heartbreaking discovery, firefighters found the charred remains of these individuals within the Dadia forest, a designated National Park. Among the victims were two young children, a somber detail confirmed by Alexandroupolis coroner Pavlos Pavlidis. "Among the 18 charred bodies, all males, were two children. They were found in groups, often two or three together, with some attempting to escape and others tragically succumbing inside makeshift shelters."

Engulfing an expansive area spanning over 282 square miles, the amalgamated fires have officially become "the largest wildfires on record the EU has faced," asserted Janez Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, on the social media platform X.

Lenarcic underlined the criticality of ongoing endeavors to enhance national and collaborative measures for prevention and preparedness, given the escalating severity of fire seasons.

The extent of the devastation is underscored by data provided by the European Commission's Copernicus mapping service and the National Observatory of Athens. Their data reveals a staggering 292,587 hectares (722,998 acres) of forest land consumed by wildfires within the Evros region. The collective toll of 16 mega wildfires since 2007 has amounted to a staggering 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of forest land scorched across Greece. The ongoing conflagration in Evros stands as the most substantial among these catastrophic incidents. (ILKHA)