Fires in Greece have become an international issue by Corina Ciubotaru

This summer hasn't been easy on anyone. Floods, drought, hurricanes and wildfires have affected the lives of millions. Greece is the latest country affected. 73 people have already died, being caught by the flames in their homes, cars or on the fields, trying to run away. The death toll keeps rising as the authorities try to control the fires, with aid from the European Union. Countries like Germany, Iceland, Norway, Israel or Serbia have already sent or promised to send water-carrying planes, while the ones from France, Italy and Canada are already dropping water. The Greek authorities have sent in the army to help fire-fighters and volunteers bring the disaster to an end. Strong winds and temperatures reaching 46 degrees Centigrade make operations difficult and time-consuming, so more lives are in danger every day. Luckily fires threatening the ancient Olympia site in southern Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, which has been around for almost 2,000 years, have been extinguished and the area is safe. The South region of the country, especially the Peloponnese peninsula, has been the worst affected. Authorities fear the fires are the work of arsonists and have already begun questioning suspects and arresting some of the most dangerous ones. Rewards have been put up for anyone that can help identify and arrest an arsonist. Some people in Greece have been known to intentionally start forest fires in order to clear up land for farming and other developments, so the arson theory isn't all that far-fetched. The Greek authorities have sent in the army to help fire-fighters and volunteers bring the disaster to an end.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070826/ap_on_re_eu/greece_fires;_ylt=Aov55c7a4RZbZ56tCD5yofqs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.