Greek PM defends government as anger mounts over handling of fires

FILE PHOTO: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a Trilateral Meeting between Greece, Cyprus and Jordan, in Athens, Greece, July 28, 2021. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his government on Thursday as public anger grew over the response to wildfires that have ripped through thousands of hectares of forest over the past 10 days.

On Evia, Greece's second-largest island, where some of the worst fires have occurred, rain provided some relief to exhausted firefighters. But with the entire forest covering the northern part of the island destroyed, residents were bereft.