An area the size of New York burn down in Meriç

In Alexandroupoli and Evros regions of Greece, the biggest forest fires seen in the last 20 years are being fought. In the Evros Region near the Turkish border, an area the size of New York City was burnt down in the forest fires that left behind the 12th day.

While the forest fire, which is being fought from air and land, has not yet been extinguished, the size of the burnt area was announced as 812 thousand 600 square kilometres.

It was also stated that the fire was the largest fire recorded in European territory in recent years.

So far, 20 people have lost their lives in the fire, to which the EU has sent an intervention team.

Concern in Greece: Death toll may increase

18 of the 20 people who died in the fires that started on 19 August were migrants, including children.

The newspaper eKathimerini reported that the authorities were concerned that more deaths could be found after the fires were extinguished.

Speaking to AFP, Greek officials said that the flames in the north-east of the Dadias National Park were still not under control.

"We are talking about an ecological disaster"

Speaking to the agency, forestry official Dora Skartsis said all the restoration work done after the 2011 fire had been lost.

"We are talking about a gigantic ecological disaster," Skartsis said.

Panagiota Maragou of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Greece said 30 per cent of the national park had been destroyed. At least 4,000 sheep perished in the Alexandroupoli region.

140 people arrested in connection with the fire

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said that 79 of the 140 arrests in connection with the forest fires were linked to arson.

The European Union has announced its intention to mobilise a force of 28 aircraft for such disasters.

In Greece, 104 people died in a forest fire outside the capital Athens in 2018.