Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has approved a supplemental budget of 500 million euros to fund relief and compensation for people who have lost homes and property in wildfires that have hit the country.
Speaking in a televised address Mitsotakis apologized for the losses saying the extent of the destruction was heart breaking and promised that his government would stand by all those hurt by the blazes.
Firefighters on the ground and from the air were still battling to halt wildfires on the island of Evia, Greece’s second largest near Athens, as they threatened to engulf the town of Istiaia in the north of the island.
Strong winds fueled flare-ups on the island after the fires appeared to ease earlier on Monday. Water-bombing aircraft struggled to operate because of the large plumes of smoke blanketing the area, authorities said.
Mitsotakis thanked countries that sent assistance and the many volunteers who helped firefighting efforts, adding government services had to deal with 586 wildfires “in all corners of Greece” amid a heatwave.
He said possible failings would be investigated. Angry Greeks are criticizing the government’s response to the devastation.
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