Floods follow fire in Greece
Published 04 September, 2007, 07:23
Greek authorities say that the main wildfires in the country have been brought under control. But heavy rains which have helped firefighters put out some blazes have become a disaster for some areas of the country, as they may now lead to floods and mud slides. The number of victims of the fires has reached 65 after a man who was seriously burned, died in hospital.
The government has offered compensation packages to those who have lost their property.
Funeral services have been held in Greece for those killed in the fires that ravaged the country. The blazes claimed the lives of at least 65 people and left thousands homeless.
However, its slow response to the crisis and failure to evacuate people have caused public anger.
It will take years for the mountain villages to recover.
“It has been a great tragedy as almost the whole area is affected. No work is being done, everything has been burnt down. What else can I say?” said Burloumis Haralambos, a local resident.
After battling for weeks with the fires, Greece is now suffering from floods.
The rain that the fire-stricken south of Greece is waiting for has already caused damage in the north of the country. Greek authorities say flood-prevention measures are being put in place as weather services forecast more rain.
Heavy rain has flooded streets and houses in a village in the Halkidiki peninsula. The village was damaged by fires from last year's heat wave.
This year, flooding has added to the damage to soil and vegetation caused by fires last year.
The Greek weather services say they expect more rainfall and thunderstorms this week.
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