Heatwave Fires Threaten Holidaymakers
Posted on 31 July 2007
While Britain is experiencing one of it's wettest summers on record, Mediterranean Europe is experiencing quite the opposite.
Soaring temperatures in Greece reaching heights of 43ºC have been blamed for hundreds of deaths, as well as a number of forest fires sparking all over the country, some of which began near Athens and on the Greek island of Salamina.
The fires have caused many tourists to flee from areas such as Cephalonia, although fire fighters in Lygia and Mantem Lakko report that blazes they are battling are now under control.
High temperatures have also led to power shortages. Seven Greek passenger trains were delayed for several hours following a blackout on Tuesday and Civil Servants were sent home on Thursday in an attempt to cut electricity demands.
In other crazy news, a fire fighter on Gran Canaria has admitted starting a blaze which burned out 3,500 hectares of forest. His job contract had expired but he wanted to keep on working, so he thought he'd burn down a forest to give himself something to do. Ironically, admitting to that probably cost him his job anyway.