February 11, 2009 4:20 PM
- Text
Ancient Olympia Spared From Raging Fires
(CBS/AP)
Firefighters backed by aircraft prevented the birthplace of the ancient Olympics from being consumed by flames Sunday as Greece's worst wildfires in memory blazed across the country and the death toll climbed to 60.
New fires broke out faster than others could be brought under control, with 63 new blazes on Sunday. Walls of flames have swallowed villages, forests and farmland over three days, leaving behind a charred landscape dotted with the carcasses of burned animals. The government declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
"Fires are burning in more than half the country," said fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis. "This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece."
Fire crews sounded church bells and used bullhorns to warn people to leave threatened areas, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.
Desperate residents appealed through television stations for help from a firefighting service already stretched to the limit and many blamed authorities for leaving them defenseless.
Authorities have suggested arson caused many of the blazes, and several people had been arrested. The government offered a reward of up to $1.4 million for anyone providing information that would lead to the arrest of an arsonist.
Forest fires are common during Greece's hot, dry summers — but nothing has approached the scale of the last three days. Arson is often suspected, mostly to clear land for development. No construction is allowed in Greece in areas designated as forest land, and fires could be set to circumvent the law by disputing the status of the area.
On Sunday, the front of one fire reached Ancient Olympia in southern Greece, burning trees and shrubs just a few yards away from the museum at the site.
Ruined temples of Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods, and his wife, Hera, stand on what was a lush riverside site — a flat stretch of land surrounded by pine-clad hills — near the stadium that hosted the ancient Olympic games for more than 1,000 years after they started in 776 B.C. The site strewn with fallen columns includes the remains of a gymnasium, a wrestling hall, hostels, bathhouses, priests' residences and altars. The 5th century B.C. limestone temple of Zeus is one of the largest in mainland Greece.
Helicopters and aircraft covered the ruins with water and foam. The flames reached the edge of the ancient stadium, searing the grass and incinerating the trees on the hill above. Volunteers grabbed buckets of water and joined firefighters.
"Firefighters fought a battle in Ancient Olympia, which was won," said fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis.
New fires broke out faster than others could be brought under control, with 63 new blazes on Sunday. Walls of flames have swallowed villages, forests and farmland over three days, leaving behind a charred landscape dotted with the carcasses of burned animals. The government declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
"Fires are burning in more than half the country," said fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis. "This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece."
Fire crews sounded church bells and used bullhorns to warn people to leave threatened areas, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.
Desperate residents appealed through television stations for help from a firefighting service already stretched to the limit and many blamed authorities for leaving them defenseless.
Authorities have suggested arson caused many of the blazes, and several people had been arrested. The government offered a reward of up to $1.4 million for anyone providing information that would lead to the arrest of an arsonist.
Forest fires are common during Greece's hot, dry summers — but nothing has approached the scale of the last three days. Arson is often suspected, mostly to clear land for development. No construction is allowed in Greece in areas designated as forest land, and fires could be set to circumvent the law by disputing the status of the area.
On Sunday, the front of one fire reached Ancient Olympia in southern Greece, burning trees and shrubs just a few yards away from the museum at the site.
Ruined temples of Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods, and his wife, Hera, stand on what was a lush riverside site — a flat stretch of land surrounded by pine-clad hills — near the stadium that hosted the ancient Olympic games for more than 1,000 years after they started in 776 B.C. The site strewn with fallen columns includes the remains of a gymnasium, a wrestling hall, hostels, bathhouses, priests' residences and altars. The 5th century B.C. limestone temple of Zeus is one of the largest in mainland Greece.
Helicopters and aircraft covered the ruins with water and foam. The flames reached the edge of the ancient stadium, searing the grass and incinerating the trees on the hill above. Volunteers grabbed buckets of water and joined firefighters.
"Firefighters fought a battle in Ancient Olympia, which was won," said fire department spokesman Nikos Diamandis.
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Stephen Smith Stephen Smith is a news producer and sports editor for CBSNews.com
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