Dadia Forest Does are 27 individuals whose charred remains were found in the Dadia Forest during the 2023 Greece wildfires.
Case[]
The first victim was located on 22 August 2023 in the area of the Dadia Forest. The following day, when the fire brigade was inspecting the charred remains near the village of Avantas, they discovered 18 more bodies near a hut outside of the village. Following the discovery, the country's Disaster Victim Identification Team was activated to investigate. According to the BBC, there were unconfirmed reports that the bodies were discovered in two groups and that the death toll could increase. Local media eventually reported that another eight bodies were located. Although no details on the victim's descriptions are currently available, an Associated Press report on 24 August 2023 reported that two of the victims were boys aged between 10 and 15.
As there were no local missing person reports at the time, authorities believe that the victims were migrants and refugees who had illegally crossed over from the Turkish border. Both the Evros region and the Dadia Forest have been described as popular but unsafe routes for Middle Eastern, African, and Asian migrants and refugees to cross from Turkey into the European Union.
In July 2023, Greece suffered nearly 80 wildfires due to the 2023 European heat waves and reportedly human negligence and arson. The fires resulted in 1800 km² of area being burned, 28 people killed, more than 75 injured, more than 20,000 evacuated, and more than 160 arrested in connection to fires suspected to be caused by arson and negligence.
Sources[]
- Al-Jazeera
- Amnesty International
- Associated Press
- BBC News
- 2023 Greece wildfires on Wikipedia