In a distressing development, firefighters discovered the bodies of 18 individuals, believed to be migrants, in a forest engulfed by flames in northeastern Greece on Tuesday. The wildfires worsened as fire services reported over 60 outbreaks in just the past 24 hours.
As the raging fires inch closer to the Greek capital, Athens, six European Union nations have extended a helping hand, sending aid through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
This disaster not only underscores the ever-present dangers of wildfires but also brings to light the tragic vulnerabilities of migrant communities in the region.
On Monday, a wildfire ignited in the northeastern town of Alexandroupolis in Greece and continued its devastation, destroying a large section of pine forest and leading to the evacuation of 13 communities.
The wildfires has expanded on three primary fronts, also threatening agricultural lands, according to the state-affiliated AMNA news outlet.
Among the affected areas, some residences and two churches in two of the evacuated communities sustained significant damage.
Even with the combined efforts of firefighters, volunteers, planes, and helicopters, strong winds in the region have intensified the spread of the wildfires.
Since Friday night, the national fire department reported dealing with over 53 wildfires.
Minister Vassilis Kikilias of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection warned the public of high fire risks on Monday, particularly highlighting regions like Evia, Attica, Viotia, Argolida, and Corinthia.
The minister stressed the importance of caution among citizens.
In a related context, Authorities in the United States have confirmed that at least 1,100 individuals remain unaccounted for two weeks after deadly wildfires ravaged the island of Maui in Hawaii. The FBI is seeking the assistance of victims’ families to help identify them.
Maui’s wildfires, described as the deadliest in the US in a century, have left at least 1,100 people missing, as stated by Hawaii authorities last Wednesday. The initial toll suggests at least 115 fatalities resulted from the catastrophic blazes.
The town of Lahaina, home to 12,000 residents, is nearly completely devastated. Lists from various organizations, including the Red Cross, local police, and shelters, indicate thousands are missing.
The FBI is currently working diligently to gather and verify data. “We are cross-referencing all lists to identify the actual number of people still missing,” FBI Special Agent Steven Merrill informed reporters on Tuesday. As of Tuesday, the FBI had confirmed the figure of 1,100 missing, a number Merrill believes might rise.
Identifying the Victims
The FBI has set up hotlines and urges relatives of the missing to get in touch. “We genuinely need the community’s help,” Merrill stated, especially concerning additional details to verify some of the missing individuals’ information.
Maui Police Chief John Beltier reported that authorities are validating data, hoping to release a confirmed list of the missing “in the coming days.”
FBI agents are also gathering DNA samples from the families of the missing who cannot travel to Maui, regardless of their global location. Identifying bodies that are hard to recognize in Lahaina is a challenging task. So far, only 27 out of the 115 victims have been identified.
Julie French, the head of ANDE Corporation responsible for the operation, emphasized that obtaining the DNA of the missing persons’ families is “a crucial step for identifying” the victims. “About three-quarters of the remains examined so far have yielded usable DNA results for identification,” she added.
However, this process won’t bear fruit unless there’s DNA from relatives for comparison. Only 104 DNA samples from the families of the deceased or missing have been collected so far. Authorities are working to dispel any mistrust towards the procedure.
Maui District Attorney Andrew Martin clarified that neither the FBI nor the police “retain DNA records. Their sole purpose will be to assist in identifying the missing.”
