Balkan Forest Fires
3 September 2007
Most fires in the Balkans appeared to have quieted down when this image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite on 3 September 2007. Fire activity has been occurring off and on in the Balkans sinceJuly.
The large image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of250 meters per pixel.
(source: EarthObservatory)
The last spate of major wildfires in southern Greece, mostly centered in Arcadia prefecture of thePeloponnese Peninsula, appeared to be under control or completely extinguished by2 September 2007. Fire brigade officials announced that no less than 36 separate wildfires were reported in the previous 24 hours, with only one blaze, on the Ionian island of Cephallonia, qualifying as aconcern. The devastating wildfire fronts near the Karytaina, Mt. Parnonas and the Megalopoli districts of the southern Peloponneseare reported to be out. The official death toll rose to at least 64 following the death of an Evia man, who had been hospitalized since last week with burns from a wildfire in theregion. Weather conditions in northern Greece may move south overnight and bringsome rain showers, ending any chance of charred areas reigniting.
A rough damage assessment estimates that 188.962 ha wereburned by 30 August 2007:
Peloponnese, 29 August 2006
Peloponnese, 30 Agust 2007
Wildfire Damage Assessment, August 2007
images created by Nikos Alexandris,
Department of Remote Sensing, Forest Faculty, Freiburg University
See also the latest news reports from the media:
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PM Costas Karamanlis, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso inspect wildfire destruction (published by www.ana.gr, 3 September 2007)
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Start fighting next years fires now, World Conservation Union urges (published by www.iucn.org, 3 September 2007)
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EU debates forest fire crisis (published by tvnz.co.nz, 2 September 2007)
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Questions raised on Greek forest fire management (published by africa.reuters.com, 1 September 2007)
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Greece seeks EU help to recover from forest fires (published by www.reliefweb.int, 31 August 2007)
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Greek fires ‘a catastrophe waiting to happen’: experts (published by www.reliefweb.int, 31 August 2007)