Two children found among 18 bodies burned in Avantas wildfire

·

An official confirmation reveals two children were found among 18 people burned in the raging forest fire near the village of Avantas, 10 km north of Alexandroupoli, on Tuesday.

The 18 bodies were found in a rural area in Evros when an inspection was made at the site by Pavlos Pavlidis, a coroner based in Alexandroupoli, reported amna.gr.

Mr Pavlidis reported a total of 18 male bodies and among them, two children.

“They were all found in groups of two or three people at a distance of 500 meters, apparently while trying to escape, and some of them were burned in a shack,” Mr Pavlidis made public.

Police accompanying Mr Pavlidis explained, the region where the bodies were found is a known passageway for “irregular migrants, on the path from the borders to the hinterland, through the Rodopi mountains.”

Migration and Asylum Minister, Dimitris Kairidis, confirmed the bodies were migrants and expressed sorrow over the deaths of the 18 people including the two children, according to Ekathimerini.

An aerial photo of the burnt area after a wildfire, in Avantas village, Alexandroupolis, on Tuesday. Photo: Daily Mail.

In an announcement, Mr Kairidis condemned “the murderous activity of criminal human traffickers and all those facilitating them, and the trade of irregular flows, which threatens the lives of many migrants on land and sea on a daily basis.”

The bodies will be removed to a hospital to be examined post mortem today.

Mr Pavlidis was unable to confirm rumours about eight bodies found at another location.

The death toll has hit 20 people for the second wave of wildfires to blaze through Greece, according to the latest reports on Tuesday August 22. A suspected migrant was found dead in the area and an elderly shepherd had also been found dead in the north of Athens on Monday.

Source: amna.gr and Ekathimerini.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Ignite the Flame: AHEPA Australia champions Greek language at Blakehurst High

The Hellenic spirit was alive on June 13 as AHEPA Australia hosted an evening celebrating Greek language education at Blakehurst High School.

Tradition and youth celebrated at Laconian Federation of NSW event

The Laconian Federation of NSW brought the spirit of tradition and pride in youth together on Sunday, June 15, with a special event.

Greek and Jewish communities unite in Sydney to honour WWII heroines

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, in collaboration with the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, held a presentation on Greek WWII heroines.

Hellenic Club of Sydney saddled with $1.6m wedding debt after Adgemis’ pub group collapsed

Hellenic Club of Sydney was left with a $1.6m wedding deposit bill after collapse of its operating partnership with Jon Adgemis’ pub group

Archbishop Makarios of Australia meets with Greece’s Health Minister

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia met with Greece’s Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, in Athens on Thursday, June 12.

You May Also Like

Greece extends condolences to Japan over earthquake victims

Greece has expressed its sympathies to Japan's people following the catastrophic earthquake that struck the nation on New Year's Day.

Cyprus Community of NSW presents its development plans for The Cyprus Club in Stanmore

The Board of the Cyprus Community of NSW has released its proposed development plans for The Cyprus Club in Stanmore.

Greek CEO of Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective

Pfizer have announced that early results from its coronavirus vaccine suggest the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19.