News

One dead as wildfires rage across Athens suburbs

Published

9 months ago

August 13, 2024

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One person has died as fierce wildfires spread in the suburbs of Athens in Greece on Monday.

The body, believed to be that of a woman, was found inside a shop in the town of Vrilissia, northern Athens, a source from the fire service told the BBC.

Thousands of people have been evacuated after firefighters warned that homes, businesses and schools were under threat, with fires expected to continue into Tuesday.

Fire service spokesman Col Vassilios Vathrakogiannis said while there was no longer a single active fire front in the north-eastern Attica region, which includes parts of Athens, there were still “many active localised blazes”, mostly around the towns of Marathon and Penteli.

In a statement released on Monday evening, he added that conditions for new fires remained dangerous not only on Tuesday, but also for further into the week.

More than 700 firefighters, 199 fire engines and 35 waterbombing aircraft have been involved in efforts to extinguish the fires, which first broke out on Sunday afternoon around 35km (22 miles) north of the Greek capital.

Col Vathrakogiannis said two firefighters had received treatment for burns while fighting the blazes.

Officials said fires broke out in 40 different locations on Monday and that some areas saw flames as high as 25m (82ft).

In unprecedented scenes, people in Athens wore facemasks to protect themselves from the smoke, which blew into the city.

(BBC News)

News

Ranil to appear before CIABOC on Monday

Published

42 minutes ago

April 25, 2025

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Bribery Commission on April 28 over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the bribery case filed against New Democratic Front MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.

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Vijitha to attend Pope Francis’s Funeral Mass

Published

45 minutes ago

April 25, 2025

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath will represent the Government of Sri Lanka at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis.

The late Pope’s funeral is scheduled to be held on April 26, 2025 in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City.

News

President makes sudden visit to Kandy (Pics)

Published

51 minutes ago

April 25, 2025

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake last night (April 24) conducted an inspection tour of Kandy city to inspect the “Siri Dalada Wandanawa” and the related issues that have emerged.

The President held an urgent meeting with relevant officials to address issues related to the provision of facilities and sanitation for devotees visiting the “Siri Dalada Wandanawa”.

Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha, Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Nilanga Dela Bandara, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, Army Commander Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Governor of the Central Province Prof. Sarath Abeykoon, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte and others participated in this meeting.

(President’s Media Division)