Hungarian government to contribute to reconstruction after Greece wildfires

Neosz Vucasz, 2018. július 24. Leégett házának romjaira locsol vizet egy nõ az Athén közelében fekvõ Neosz Vucaszban 2018. július 24-én. A görög fõváros közelében keletkezett két erdõtûz legalább hatvan ember halálát okozta, valamint házakat és autókat is elpusztított. (MTI/AP/Jorgosz Karahalisz)

The Hungarian government has decided to donate 2 million forints (EUR 6,200) to the Hungarian Greek community to contribute to reconstruction efforts after recent wildfires in Greece, Miklós Soltész, state secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, told a press conference on Friday.

The funds will go towards buying saplings to replace forests destroyed by the fire which broke out on July 23.

András Mocz, head of the Hungarian forestry association, said that the association has raised one million forints, which equals to the cost of replanting two hectares of forests.

Tamás Sianos, parliamentary spokesman for Hungary’s Greeks, said that nearly 100 people died in the fires, while 125 sqkm of forests were destroyed and 4,000 houses were damaged.