Greece

As a result of climate and other environmental changes, on which scientists have long raised awareness, European Member States are experiencing increasingly frequent and devastating natural disasters, ranging from forest fires to floods. A prime example is Greece’s recent tragic experience. Within just 3 months (from July to September 2023), the country was severely hit by various devastating wildfires and floods; the most recent of them being Evros forest fires and Thessaly floods (natural disasters that caught the attention of local, national, as well as international media).

The immense wildfires that recently devastated northeastern Greece have underscored the critical need for advanced tools to monitor and manage such ecological disasters. As of August 28th, a staggering 80,000 hectares were decimated in the Evros region, marking the largest wildfire in Greece in over two decades.