Tragedy in Greece.
“Locals sat outside buildings, many in shorts and ash-covered T-shirts, holding their heads in their hands or looking aimlessly into the distance.”
“May we stop and ask God
what He wants us to do to be part of His plan.”
Wildfires raged 25km to the east of the Greek capital of Athens, torching homes, cars and forests and killing at least 80 people, authorities said Wednesday, July 25.
As Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, declared three days of mourning, and firefighting planes flew overhead, disbelief hung heavy in Mati’s putrid air. Locals sat outside buildings, many in shorts and ash-covered T-shirts, holding their heads in their hands or looking aimlessly into the distance.
“No one has really understood reality, they are all in a state of shock,” said Aris Bouranis, the community’s president, “Dead people, dead people, there are dead people everywhere.” Many ran to the sea, some could not make it in time. Others were taken out to the deep as they continued to escape the smoke.
A doctor who lives in Mati said on ERT TV: “How can it be that in such a small town so many people perish? Something has gone very wrong.” Fires throughout the region have now claimed 80 lives.
Some are blaming arson, citing “immigrants who are trying to take over the land”, real estate developers, climate change, and illegal construction. Officials have stated that fires broke out at 13 separate locations around the seaside town within a short time.
Fires also burned to the west of Athens. Now, three days after the fires, rains have led to flash flooding in the north of Athens.
Some there recognize these tragedies as an “Act of God.”
Pray that these tragedies will lead people to turn to the Lord. Having a lot of money and a high standard of living will not save the souls. As has been seen here, death is no respecter of persons.
May we stop and ask God what He wants to do in these events, and what He wants us to do to be part of His plan.
“May we stop and ask God
what He wants us to do to be part of His plan.”
Map By NuclearVacuum – File:Location European nation states.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8097808, and MyGoogleMap