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Athens fire finally contained
03/07/2007 23:03 - (SA)
Athens - Firefighters have contained a blaze that ravaged a nature reserve near Athens for five days, authorities said on Tuesday.
Fire on Mount Parnitha destroyed about 2 500ha of forest, after breaking out during a weeklong heat wave, when temperatures reached 46°C in parts of Greece.
During the heat wave, two people died in a fire in central Greece, while the Health Ministry reported 15 heat-stroke deaths.
The government insisted on Tuesday it would protect the land scorched near Athens for reforestation programmes and ward off possible bids by developers.
"Anti-flooding work must start immediately and be completed by September. The reforestation drive will start in November," said Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias.
A forest fire was also contained on Tuesday on Evia, an island attached to the eastern Greek mainland by bridge.
Opposition parties have accused the government of displaying incompetence in dealing with the Parnitha fire, and demanded tougher zoning laws.
"There are gray areas in the law, and this only whets the appetites of rogue developers," said Alekos Alavanos, leader of the small Left Coalition and Ecology Party.
- SAPA
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