ekathimerini.com _The Greek Letter : Greece suffers a second week of devastating wildfires

 

Greece suffers a second week of devastating wildfires[InTime News] Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor Welcome to the round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. For a second straight week, high temperatures fuelled dozens of wildfires across Greece. While the threat has been receding at the tail-end of the week, the fires killed five people and left behind scarred earth as they destroyed homes, businesses, and forests. Additionally, on Thursday, an unchecked fire in central Greece triggered massive explosions at a Hellenic Air Force munitions dump near the Air Force base at Nea Anchialos, close to the city of Volos, forcing the evacuation of almost 2,000 people from the surrounding area. The shockwaves from the blast were felt for miles, with glass panes shattering in nearby buildings. According to information available to Kathimerini, the depot contained both 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs carried by the approximately 70 F-16 fighter jets of the 111th Combat Wing operating out of the Nea Anchialos air base, while also housing air-to-surface missiles. In fact, the depot was reportedly so fully packed that the installed firefighting systems failed. The explosions and the fires also prompted the relocation of several F-16s stationed at the airbase. Naturally, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias urgently called for a full investigation into the safety lapses that allowed the situation to escalate this rapidly, particularly as Nea Anchialos is one of the largest HAF facilities. As Kathimerini’s defense correspondent Vassilis Nedos points out, almost half of Greece’s F-16s operate from the base, which translates to an extended ecosystem of facilities in the vicinity. He also raised important points, primarily questioning the firefighting protocols in effect at the time, and the extent to which they were followed. He also asked whether the Hellenic Fire Service was fully aware and trained to face the dangers of a fire in the area. Finally the issue of whether the blast impedes the operational capacity of the HAF is raised. Spotlight The Hellenic Air Force also mourned two of its own this week as it confirmed the deaths of Captain Christos Moulas, aged 34, and Second Lieutenant Perikles Stefanidis, aged 27, who were piloting a CL-215 Canadair waterbomber that crashed during operations on the island of Evia on Tuesday. Footage of the incident indicates that the plane most likely clipped a tree during a bombing dive. The crash is a grim reminder of the exceptionally challenging circumstances in which firefighting pilots have to operate, exacerbated by an aging fleet of planes (as production lines for Canadair planes had been closed for years). Indicatively, “Silver-1”, the crashed CL-215, was bought in 1975.   However, amidst the destruction, the devastation, and the mourning, there was also a reminder that the better angels of our nature are still here. Even as the fires of Rhodes decimated the livelihoods of the island’s inhabitants, there are countless stories being shared by evacuated tourists praising the efforts of the locals to alleviate their situation. The islanders offered tourists water, food, medicine, shelter, toys, and helped them escape the fires. The tourists on the island, threatened by a fire in a foreign land, saw an overwhelming outpouring of empathy and kindness.

MUST READS The problem with ‘ticking boxes’Go to article > The enemy has breached the wallsGo to article > Heatwaves and wildfires: How Greece is handling the double whammyGo to article >

OPINION Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition A thorough investigation[InTime News] An in-depth investigation into how Greece’s military bases are safeguarded – or left unprotected – is warranted after the mass explosions of precious ordnance, including heavy bombs, at an ammunition depot at the Nea Achialos air force base. The question becomes an existential one as the incident that triggered the investigation occurred in the airbase hosting the bulk of the nation’s air defenses, a larger number of F-16 fighter jets, many of which had to be relocated. At a time when billions of euros are being spent on the most advanced aircraft, it is unacceptable that the latter would be exposed to the possibility of being burned on the ground. The commander of the base in question has been relieved of his duties while more officers are expected to be sanctioned. At the same time, with the country’s firefighters, police officers and members of the fire service battling the wildfires, the minister responsible for the country’s public protection services, Minister of Citizen Protection Notis Mitarakis, was caught vacationing on a yacht in a popular island and was rightly forced to resign. A thorough inquiry is demanded by the opposition too. The issue is not ideological, but rather a matter of the necessary planning and competence in a sensitive sector, and that is a national need that transcends political parties. It is in this context that the investigation should take place, and the relevant officials in the government and military hierarchy be held responsible. And more importantly, the shortcomings that might be revealed, must be corrected.

ESCAPADE Something’s Brewing: A Guide to Athens’ Best Microbreweries & Taprooms As the temperatures rise, we explore the best microbreweries and taprooms in the Greek capital, each offering refreshingly cool local and international craft beers. Go to article >

ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL

“Traders appeared to cash-in on the recent hot streak of the Athens Exchange (ATHEX) with the general index closing at 1,333.86 points on Friday, down 0.40% from the week before.”

“Despite a sharp decline in the demand for mortgages due to rising interest rates, the volume and value of real estate transactions in Greece continue to move upward. While the flow of financing in housing credit decreased by almost 650 million euros in the first six months of the year, the share of cash sales has been increasing.”

“The Independent Authority for Public Revenues will begin its efforts to reduce tax evasion in Greece by scrutinizing taxi operators, plumbers, and electricians as sources within the Finance Ministry share investigations will begin with job sectors and self-employed individuals who declare an annual income of less than 10,000 euros.”

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA

31/07/2023PM to visit Cyprus: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will, if conditions allow, has rescheduled his official visit to Cyprus for Monday after it was delayed due to the severity of the wildfires this week 02/08/2023Treasury Bill Auction: The Greek state will auction off treasury bills with a duration of 13-weeks (expiring on November 3) worth an estimated 625 million euros. The settlement date will be on August 4. 04/08/2023Metaxas Dictatorship: The 4th of August marks 87 years since Ioannis Metaxas imposed a dictatorship in 1936 that lasted as a government-in-exile until February, 1942, following the German occupation in April, 1941.

Editor's PickThe center-right government, which was elected to a second term in office in June by an overwhelming majority, does not appear willing to keep the required distance from the ChurchMaria KatsounakiRead the article

PODCAST

27/07/2023 • 13:19Why going to the International Court is Greece’s best optionConstantinos Filis, the Director of the Institute of Global Affairs and an associate professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss his latest piece in Kathimerini in which he makes the case that going to the International Court at the Hague is Greece’s best option in order to resolve the key disputes with Turkey in the Aegean.

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