Fires Are 'National Humiliation'

Fire victims appeal to broadcasters , not government, for help

(NEWSER) - Desperate Greeks have resorted to calling TV stations with pleas for rescue from wildfires that have been raging for the past week, Der Spiegel reports, highlighting what one critic calls a "deep mistrust of the capability of the state machine." And the stations have gotten results: "Wherever we broadcast live links, helicopters would come and drop water," says one reporter. More»

(AP) - Fire crews outside Athens are scrambling to exploit a lull in high winds as they fight massive wildfires that broke out Friday and have razed about 58 square miles north of the Greek capital. The flames are still spreading, and a dozen nuns had to be rescued from a convent threatened by one blaze. Up to 2,000 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers are involved in fighting the disaster, and aircraft have been sent from as far as France and Italy. More»

Bracing for worsening conditions, officials struggle to tame blazes

(NEWSER) - Dozens of wildfires are raging across Greece today, forcing villagers to flee and threatening to scorch ancient landmarks, the BBC reports. Fanned by gale-force winds, the flames are also creeping up on the nation's capital, where one suburb has already received evacuation orders, the AP reports. "The coming night will be especially difficult," a fire brigade spokesman said. More»

Flames kill 51; international help on the way

(NEWSER) - Greece is under a state of emergency as rampant fires continue to torch villages and threaten the vicinity of historic Olympia, Reuters reports. At least 51 are dead and thousands have fled their homes from a swath of flame that spread over 100 miles. PM Costas Karamanlis blames arsonists, and two individuals have been arrested so far. More»

Dozens of police and protesters injured, buildings ablaze

(AP) - Greece's parliament has approved an austerity and debt-relief bill, crucial for the country to avoid bankruptcy and remain in the eurozone. Lawmakers voted today in favor of the bill that imposes harsh new austerity measures in return for a $171 billion new bailout agreement and related deal with private creditors to shave $132 billion off the country's national debt. The vote occurred after extensive rioting and looting swept through the Greek capital. More»