On 17 July, one of the most catastrophic fires Greece has ever seen broke out in Vatika, Laconia. Within six hours, three villages were up in flames.

After 18 days the Indiegogo campaign has raised more than €2400, with most of the donations between €30 and €100

By the end of the third day, it left behind 62,000 acres of land burnt to the ground. The Peloponnesians lost 115,000 olive trees, the famous Laconian vineyards and 51 houses.

Apart from the livestock lost, thousands of native wildlife populations, including endangered species were caught by the firestorm.

Tina Georgoudis, a young Greek Australian living in Athens, who visited the southern Peloponnese area recently, has begun an online crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help people affected.

“Vatika, the place I love more than anything in the world, is ruined. I want to help but it is very difficult to raise funds,” says Tina.

With municipalities across Greece also facing severe limits on what they are able to do to help, due to the economic crisis, after assessing the damage the Municipality of Monemvasia judged that compensation to local residents would be limited to a one-off payment of €586 per person.

Meanwhile, the cash-strapped Greek government is unlikely to be able to offer any assistance as it deals with the increased creditors’ demands over the the country’s third bailout deal.

“It’s important to make clear that the losses and the costs of the damages are far more than that, as people lost herds, crops, homes and businesses,” adds Tina.

“People lost literally everything. In Vatika, the main income comes from olive oil production, yet now that almost all olive groves are burnt, people are dealing with poverty,” she says, worried that with winter coming, more problems will arise. In the area, which is known for heavy rainfall, floods are expected to cause further damage.

With capital controls still in place, Indiegogo’s use of PayPal will ensure those affected can receive the cash without problems.

After 18 days the campaign has raised more than €2,400, with most of the donations between €30 and €100. The campaign has set a target of €15,000.
All funds will be passed on to the Vatika fire victims.

For donations please head to the Indiegogo website here: www.indiegogo.com/projects/call-for-help-support-fire-victims-of-vatika#…

For more information on the damage go to ‘SupportVatika’ on Facebook.