Man dies in Greek forest fire trying to save animals

A massive forest fire, which began on Sunday night in the Boeotia region of Greece, north-west of Athens, resulted in the tragic death of a shepherd. The 80-year-old man bravely attempted to rescue his animals from the encroaching flames. However, the smoke overwhelmed him, leading to his collapse and, likely, suffocation. The cause of the blaze remains unknown, but the strong winds prevalent in the area accelerated its rapid spread.

Firefighters in Greece faced numerous challenges on Monday, as several wildfires persisted across the country. The Attica region, including the capital city Athens, and its neighboring areas were at an extremely high risk of fire, as declared by the Greek Civil Defence. Morning stormy winds, anticipated to persist for days, exacerbated the situation, leading to a spokesperson for the fire brigade highlighting the wind as their greatest adversary.

Due to the escalating danger, the seaside town of Paralia Saranti was evacuated as a preventive measure. Moreover, a prolonged fire near the north-eastern port city of Alexandropoulis remained uncontained. Over the weekend, twelve villages and settlements were evacuated as a precautionary step against the advancing inferno.