In Athens, on the premises of the Greek Ministry of Civil Defense, there was a clash between protesting firefighters and the police. The officers used tear gas and stun grenades. Local media reported 14 injuries and several detained people.
On Thursday evening, several hundred seasonal firefighters gathered in front of the Greek Ministry of Civil Defense to demand permanent employment. Their contracts expire at the end of the fire season.
Firefighters protest in GreeceReuters
When a group of protesters refused to leave the ministry, the police used tear gas against them, and clashes also broke out in front of the building, the Protothema portal reported. According to the website, police also used flash-bang grenades and a water cannon to disperse the crowd.
14 people were injured, including 12 policemen and two firefighters. The police reported four detainees.
Nine thousand fires in Greece since the beginning of the year
Fires are common in Greecebut in recent years they have become more frequent and last longer during the year due to extreme heat, which scientists link to a warming climate – emphasized Reuters. This year, over nine thousand of them have erupted.
Greece employs 2,500 firefighters on temporary six-month contracts until October, when the fire season usually ends. Seasonal firefighters demand that they can work all year round and be employed permanently. – You see, today the weather is like summer. There was a big fire yesterday. Something burns every day. That's why we should help all year round, said Panagiotis Andriopoulos, one of the protesting seasonal firefighters.
Main photo source: Reuters