Embassy: One Georgian Remains Missing from Athens Wildfire
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, July 25
Georgian Embassy to Greece reports that one Georgian citizen is still missing in Athens, where the deadly blaze killed 60 people and injured hundreds.
The embassy reports that out of the two missing Georgians, one was found.
The Georgian Ambassador to Greece Ioseb Nanobashvili stated that a total of five Georgians contacted the embassy for help. He expressed hope that the lost Georgian is safe.
“Citizens of Georgia are not in the list of deceased or hospitalized persons. We have checked this information in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and they confirmed,” he stated.
The embassy called on Georgian citizens living in Greece to call the hotline +306995779793 if they need any kind of help or assistance from Georgia.
The fire started in Attica region around Athens in Greece on July 23. The wind intensified the blaze which devastated the seaside village of Mati, devouring homes and cars.
As reported by international media, rescuers found the bodies of 26 adults and children who had hugged each other while dying, trapped by the inferno only few meters away from the sea.
Village Mati is located in the Rafina region, which is a famous destination for tourists, pensioners and children attending holiday camps.
Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance.
In total, at least 60 people died, Evangelos Bournous, the mayor of nearby Rafina-Pikermi, said. He added that more than 100 houses burnt down in fire.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of national mourning for the dozens of people killed.
There are no official figures on how many people were evacuated overall.
