Greece battles wildfires on eve of general polls

 ATHENS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Greek authorities battled several wildfires burning near Athens and southern Greece on Saturday, on the eve of critical general elections.

Two fire-fighters were slightly injured while trying to extinguish blazes at the seaside cities of Keratea and Palea Fokea, some 40 kilometres southeast of Athens, a Fire Brigade spokesman told reporters.

A number of houses were damaged as bushy areas at a frontline extending over 10 kilometers have been scorched¹ down, according to local media reports.

As hundreds of fire fighters assisted by four airplanes and a helicopter were struggling to contain the blazes at Keratea against gale-force winds measuring 7-8 Beaufort scale, a series of smaller wildfires broke out across Attica prefecture and the Peloponnese in southern Greece.

Meanwhile, in the northern Athens suburb of Pallini at the foot of Penteli mountain a wildfire threatened a dairy production plant.

Caretaker Prime Minister Panayiotis Pikrammenos reportedly has suggested that Greece may request aid, such as fire-fighting airplanes, from other EU members in the context of the EU mechanism² for civil protection if necessary.

Greece faces the nightmare of destructive forest fires linked to the heat wave or arsonists⁴ every summer. In the worst tragedy in 2007, more than 80 people died in dozens of major wildfires across the country.

Authorities had been on alert since Friday, fearing wildfires due to the strong winds blowing. Local officials said Keratea's front could be linked to negligence⁵ by workers or arson³, while some reported that unidentified persons fleeing the area where the fire started, shortly before smoke appears.

On Sunday Greek voters would head to the ballots⁶ in a parliamentary election that could determine if Greece will overcome an acute debt crisis and stay in the euro zone.

1 scorched   

烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦

参考例句：

• I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。

2 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

3 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

4 arsonists   

n.纵火犯( arsonist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The factory was destroyed in a fire started by arsonists. 工厂在纵火犯引起的火灾中烧毀了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland said suspected arsonists could face murder charges. 澳大利亚总检察长罗伯特麦克莱兰说，怀疑纵火犯可能面临谋杀指控。 来自互联网

5 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

6 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》