logo
More than 100 firefighters battle large wildfire on Greek island

More than 100 firefighters battle large wildfire on Greek island

Rhyl Journal5 hours ago

The fire department said three separate blazes had broken out in the morning and mid-day on Sunday near the town of Chios.
The flames were fanned by strong winds, leaving firefighters struggling to contain what turned into one large blaze.
The fire department said it was sending an arson investigation team to the Greek island.
Dozens of firefighters from Athens and the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki were sent by ship as reinforcements to the 100 already on the island.
Ten water-dropping helicopters and two firefighting planes provided air support until nightfall.
As daylight faded, local media footage and photos showed firefighters battling towering flames burning through woodland and farmland.
Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers, but authorities have said climate change has been fuelling bigger and more frequent blazes.
In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee.
More than 100 people died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

At least 22 dead after suicide bomber attacks Orthodox church in Syria
At least 22 dead after suicide bomber attacks Orthodox church in Syria

Sky News AU

time29 minutes ago

  • Sky News AU

At least 22 dead after suicide bomber attacks Orthodox church in Syria

At least 22 people have been killed and 63 others wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a church in Damascus, Syria. The attack occurred during a Sunday service after a man opened fire in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias. According to the interior ministry, after the man opened fire in the church, he detonated an explosive vest. According to the BBC, the attacker was part of the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS), though the group has not claimed the attack. A witness of the attack, Lawrence Maamari, spoke to AFP news agency about the attack and recounted that 'someone entered [the church] from outside carrying a weapon' and began shooting. Initial information on the attack revealed that the explosion happened at the entrance of the church, which killed several people inside and in the vicinity.

Mideast shipping on high alert after US bombs Iranian nuclear sites
Mideast shipping on high alert after US bombs Iranian nuclear sites

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Mideast shipping on high alert after US bombs Iranian nuclear sites

The shipping industry was placed on high alert on Sunday with warnings that Tehran could retaliate against commercial vessels following US airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz(Representative image/Reuters) Greece, home to more oil-tanker capacity than any other nation, cautioned its ship owners to think again if they're considering entering the Persian Gulf in the wake of US airstrikes. Vessels planning to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that sits at the mouth of the region, should 'reassess passage' until the situation normalizes, according to a circular seen by Bloomberg that its shipping ministry sent to vessel owners. It advised waiting in nearby safe ports. Naval forces in the area warned that ships, especially US-linked ones, could be at heightened risk. Shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S said it continues to transit Hormuz but is ready to re-evaluate its position based on the information available. The actions of the maritime industry — and its risk tolerance — will be a critical detail in the wake of the strikes because of Iran's proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and an unavoidable searoute into the Persian Gulf. Athens' warning is the latest sign of pressure on shipping markets as attacks on Iran escalate. Tanker earnings already soared by almost 90% since Israel first started conducting airstrikes on June 13. As one of the world's largest shipowning nations, advice to Greece's vessel owners would have a major impact on commodity transportation markets, especially oil. There's every chance shipowners will ignore the advice because the Persian Gulf is too-important a region for them to avoid and rates can always rise to compensate for the risk of sailing in the region. Operators that do decide to transit Hormuz should adopt the highest security level available and maintain the maximum possible distance from Iranian waters, Greece's ministry added. In Sunday's notice, the Greek ministry cited concern around a possible closure of Hormuz as a reason behind its message. Officials at three Greek tanker companies said they were still assessing the situation. One did indicate he might still allow his tankers to enter the region, while another said their ships would likely stay away. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in a statement that the government, via the shipping ministry, advised Greek-flagged and Greek-owned ships in the area of the Strait of Hormuz to go to safe port until the situation normalizes. Bigger Risk Naval groups are also warning of greater risk. On Sunday, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a liaison between navies and merchant shipping in the region, said that the Washington's airstrikes mean US-linked ships sailing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden face a high risk of attack. Yemen's Houthi rebel group issued fresh threats against American commercial and naval ships earlier in the day. There had been a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis in early May, geared toward limiting the group's attacks on the US navy. US-linked ships should consider re-routing, the JMIC said in its update. Still, it said some US-associated vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, 'which is a positive sign for the immediate future.' Separately, the European Union's naval force in the region raised its threat assessment for US-linked vessels as a result of the strikes. It now sees a severe threat to ships linked to the US and Israel and a low risk for all other ships. 'This does not exclude the possibility of all merchant vessels being targeted in the future,' it said in an update published by France's MICA Center, which helps co-ordinate global maritime security.

20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church, Asia News
20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church, Asia News

AsiaOne

timean hour ago

  • AsiaOne

20 killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church, Asia News

At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday (June 22), health authorities and security sources said. It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December. Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, a ministry statement added. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up. Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad's fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters. Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast. A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offencive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities. "We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria," the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement. "We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear." Islamic State had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016 — one of the most notorious bombings during Assad's rule. The latest assault underscores the group's continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts. [[nid:719354]]

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store