To the Editor:

Tragedy is the most representative word for the fires in Greece. This year almost 1 million acres burned, an absolute disaster for this small country. Fortunately, no human lives were lost as a direct result of the fires, that is not a small thing. However, people lost their homes and what they have worked on for a lifetime. At least the state reacted immediately to give compensation to the victims but the problem will remain for many years.

Northern Evia burned down, its inhabitants made their living from resin, beekeeping, and livestock, now they will not be able to work and most likely be forced to move either elsewhere in Greece or abroad. This reminds me of my own younger years, when I had to leave for America because there were no jobs in our homeland. This was a problem in the countryside because the young left, and now I'm afraid they will follow to an even greater extent. Even if the houses are rebuilt, I believe only the elderly will stay, young people will go elsewhere to survive, and this is a terrible blow for our homeland.

George Panoutsopoulos

New York, NY