Fires

On July 23, 2018 three fires erupted near Athens with the one at the coastal resort town of Mati being catastrophic.  In the picture the flames are advancing fanned by strong winds.

Dense smoke is advancing in the main road that connects the fields of Marathon with Athens.

Unfortunately instead of turning cars back on the main road, Marathon Avenue, police created diversions and sent drivers heading towards the area about to be devastated by the fire. This created a traffic jam and panic with hundred of cars being burned and creating further destruction.

A house totally engulfed by flames.

Hundreds of people were forced into the sea to escape the flames.   Those in the sea had to wait for hours until help arrived primarily from local fishermen.

Sadly 99 persons lost their lives and 24 are still in hospitals 4 of who are in critical condition.  They either burned to death, suffocated by smoke or drowned.  In one area, the bodies of 26 adults and children who appeared to have died hugging each other were found.  The government said the fires were started by arsonists and blamed illegal construction for blocking escape routes.   No arsonist was found as of the day of this writing. 

In my opinion the extent of the death and destruction was caused by the reasons below:

1.  Incompetent officials did not alert the people of the affected area and did not enforced evacuation. 

2. Dry undergrowth in vacant lots is present in every suburban neighborhood. Municipalities and owners alike ignore it although common sense dictates that it is the perfect kindle to start and propagate a fire.

3. The common practice of throwing cigarettes from cars instead of extinguishing them in the car’s ashtray.  It is noteworthy that 34 per cent of Greeks are smokers.

4. The present and previous governments tolerated the illegal home construction without due consideration of city planning.  

5.   Hot and dry summers in Greece.

6.   Strong seasonal winds in the summer.

7. The pan-European emergency number 112 that was supposed to be operational in 2016 is not functional as of this day in Greece.

8.  Finally, another danger lurks and will claim victims in the future.   As the many first responders (firefighters, police officers and volunteers) did not wear masks during the clean up operation.  It is not only lung injury from exposure to smoke, but exposure to asbestos a prevalent material in the homes that were ruined that will cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer many years down the road when the fire at Mati will be a distant memory.

The mishandling of the fires by the authorities has already been widely criticized by residents caught up in the disaster and the media alike.  It is time the glaring mistakes to be corrected and the incompetent authorities to be brought to justice and pay for their mistakes which if not corrected will result in similar tragedies. Unfortunately, the failings from Greek politicians and public sector authorities alike will have to be examined: The toxic mixture of corruption, carelessness, deferral of responsibility are the reasons that disasters like at Mati are all too common.  It is my hope and wish that the pain and anger from this disaster become a springboard for fundamental reforms that will address the deep-seated flaws of Greek bureaucracy, flaws that do not allow for a functioning state to be developed.

Symi

Symi or Simi (Greek: Σύμη) is an island that belongs to the Dodecanese group of islands.  Its population is now 2,500 inhabitants down from 25,000 at the end of the 19th century.     

The history of the island begins in the ancient times. According to Greek mythology Syme was a water nymph that fell in love with Poseidon. Eros gave them pathos and the two had a son.  Syme’s son name was Chthonios and it was he who named the island after his mother when he became its king. In historic times the island is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad as its king Nireus send three boats and he and his men fought on the Greek side in the Trojan War.  

Archaeological evidence indicates Symi was continuously inhabited, and was part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires until its conquest by the Knights of Rhodes in 1373. The conquest of Symi fueled the Knights' interest in Byzantine war technology such as the Greek fire, and ship construction.  It was such knowledge that launched a period of several centuries of prosperity for the island.  In 1522, Symi was conquered by the Ottomans who allowed it to retain many of its privileges. Symi along with the rest of the Dodecanese changed hands several times until 1948 when it became part of Greece.    

Symi attained the height of its prosperity in the mid 19th century, primarily from shipbuilding and maritime commerce.  The similarities between the boats in antiquity such as that used by Greek Queen Kleopatra, the last of the Pharaohs, and those of yesteryear are amazing.  The name of modern wooden skiffs is sandala from the Greek word for sandals. 

The colorful neoclassical mansions covering the slopes near the main city date from late 1800s and early 1900s resulting from the prosperity the sea trade created.  Symi’s narrow streets, steps and houses are painted in vivid colors inspired from the sea and the sky and are reminiscent of the art deco style seen in Florida. 

Simi was also known for sponge fishing a trade that has moved to Florida when many of its inhabitants immigrated to Tarpon Springs after WWII.  Those hardy individuals who brought their knowledge, their stamina and desire to make an honest living also brought information on how to built traditional wooden boats called trachantiras or trochantiras in Byzantine Greek meaning curved bow or trechantiria in modern Greek that means a fast moving boat.

The island has become a haven for tourists, many of whom are now permanent residents.  Expatriates enjoy the good weather; lay back life style as well as mingling with the locals in many of the island’s festivities.