Giorgos Tatsios, the mayor of Sintiki, expressed his deep concern in an interview with Voria, stating, “We feel forgotten, helpless.” For the past five days, no efforts have been made to extinguish the fire, which has already destroyed an estimated 26,000 acres, making it the largest fire in Greece this year.
“The fire brigade is doing what it can to create firebreaks, but it’s unacceptable that there’s been no support,” Tatsios remarked. He recounted a conversation with the Minister for Civil Protection, who acknowledged the challenges posed by multiple active fire fronts across the country, particularly in Attica. “We knew from the winter that we were facing a prolonged drought and no rain, so we expected better preparation and support,” the mayor added.
Tatsios also emphasised the limitations of aerial firefighting, noting that while air support can help to contain the flames, “if the fire doesn’t meet resistance on the ground, it won’t be extinguished.”
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