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Tragic Wildfire In Greece: In Search Of Missing Families After 79 People Confirmed Dead

Published

3 years ago

July 25, 2018

What is happening in eastern Attica is a black hell. Have you heard about the tragedy of the wildfire spreading in Athens, Greece? If not, carry not reading.

Firstly, wildfire is basically a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush. However, this fire season has become is the deadliest in decades.

Fire swept through the village 40km (25 miles) north-east of Athens on Monday and was still burning in some areas on Tuesday.

Fires are a recurring problem during the hot, dry summer months in Attica.

Officials quoted by AFP news agency have suggested the current blazes may have been started by arsonists looking to loot abandoned homes.

“Fifteen fires had started simultaneously on three different fronts in Athens,” said government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos.

As wind-fueled wildfires that killed at least 79 people in vacation areas outside Athens bore down on their seaside resort, 26 men, women and children gathered in the hope that they could find the narrow path leading to a small staircase down to the water.

The gated entrance stood only a dozen paces away, but with smoke blotting their vision and choking their lungs, they appear to have lost their way. Officials found their bodies the next day, Tuesday; several were still clinging to one another.

Greek authorities are looking for dozens of people missing after the deadly and catastrophic wildfires near Athens. After At least 79 people have died, and a search continues for survivors who fled the blaze, including those who took to the sea. More than 170 others have been hospitalized with burns and other injuries.

Furthermore, the blaze struck like a flamethrower, causing both smoke inhalation and skin burns. Coastal patrol boats and private vessels picked up hundreds of those who did manage to reach harbours or beaches.

Flames fanned by strong winds devastated the seaside village of Mati, devouring homes and cars. The coastguard said it and other ships rescued almost 700 people who had fled to the coast, and pulled 19 survivors and four bodies from the sea.

Desperate families in need were trying their hardest to reach the safety of the sea were trapped by walls of smoke and flame. They just couldn’t make it. Others died in buildings or cars.

The blaze has created such thick smoke that the main highways between the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland have been shut down and an orange haze has descended on Athens.

The first fire broke out in a pine forest near the seaside settlement of Kineta 50km west of Athens between the capital and Corinth. At least 150 firefighters were on the scene while five water-dropping planes and seven helicopters helped to fight the blaze from the air.

According to BBC.UK, after the 26 bodies were found in an open space, Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece’s Red Cross, said: “They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn’t make it in time. Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced.”

Mati is located in the Rafina region which is popular with local tourists, especially pensioners and children attending holiday camps. Rescuers there found the bodies of 26 adults and children, who had apparently hugged each other as they died, trapped just metres from the sea. It is devastating and heartbreaking how these people couldn’t make it.

High winds spread the fire, trapping many in homes and vehicles and forcing others into the water as they tried to escape the flames.

One of the survivors claimed that the village has disappeared which more than 1,000 buildings had been destroyed or damaged!

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance. A fire brigade official confirmed the latest death toll.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of national mourning.

Prime Minister Tsipras has declared a state of emergency in Attica, saying all emergency services had been mobilised.

According to the BBC.UK, a spokesperson for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Georgia Trismpioti, told the BBC some people had lost everything, “The death toll rises every hour, many people lost their loved ones, many people lost their houses, lost everything, and they will need long-term support in order to recover.”

We, the What’s Up Cairo Team, wish all those survivors a speedy recovery and all those families mourning for losing their beloved ones to stay strong and we’re all here for you!

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Al-Futtaim’s Cairo Festival City Hosted Misr El-Kheir’s

Published

1 week ago

April 28, 2021

Akram Moftah

38 Fully-Loaded Trucks Food Convoys to 12 Underprivileged Governorates

Cairo Festival City (CFC) – one of Al-Futtaim Group Real Estates’ well-renowned landmarks in New Cairo – has proudly hosted the 2nd batch of Misr El-Kheir Foundation’s food convoys. The initiative is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth & Sports to launch 38 fully-loaded trucks carrying around 490 tons of food supplies to 12 underprovided governorates.

“Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, hand in hand with the Ministries of Social Solidarity and Youth & Sports along with Misr El-Kheir Foundation, took pride in successfully launching the 2nd batch of food convoys from Cairo Festival City premises as part of Iftar Saem Campaign 2021. Assembling together the arms of Sustainable Development Golden Triangle, our joint philanthropic endeavor aimed at providing underprivileged villages and vicinities across Egypt with much-needed nutritional supplies.” said Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, Eng. Ashraf Ezz El Din.

Ezz El Din added: “Building upon our long-witnessed CSR initiatives, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate played a pivotal role in such humanitarian event by diligently equipping a slot at Cairo Festival City to properly & safely serve packaging practices; giving due concern to social distancing.”

About CFC:
Cairo Festival City is a pioneer of integrated mixed-use community developments that range from residential to commercial and entertainment apparent by how Cairo Festival City Mall is bordered by residential projects, managerial and administrative centers, and an international school. Cairo Festival City is experiencing a boom in construction rate (in cooperation with the largest contractors in Egypt) and is soon expected to be the pinnacle of integrated mixed-use community living by presenting the benefits of both luxury and practicality. Cairo Festival City is strategically located in the heart of New Cairo over 3 million sqm of land and is in close proximity to Maadi, Mokkatam, Heliopolis, and Nasr City. It is also a short, 15-minute drive away from the Cairo International Airport.

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Investments exceeding EGP 4 billion along 4 years:

Published

1 month ago

April 6, 2021

Akram Moftah

Investments exceeding EGP 4 billion along 4 years:
Living Yards Developments Egypt Partners with EFS Misr
to manage its facilities in the New Administrative Capital

– Marzouk: “Living Yards designated EFS Misr to manage and maintain 1,230 residential & administrative units within its projects; the total investment of such projects exceeds EGP 4 billion.”
– Mansour: “We are proud to have been chosen by Living Yards, and we promise to deliver world-class services; capitalizing on our 90+ projects experience in Egypt & the Middle East.”

Living Yards Developments Egypt has recently celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding with EFS Misr Facilities Service, at Living Yards’ headquarters in New Cairo, and in the presence of both corporate teams. This up-and-coming partnership culminates Living Yards’ latest remarkable successes in its New Capital real estate projects; being the first real estate developer to invest in this great national venture.

In this regard, Mr. Ayman Marzouk, Chairman and CEO of Living Yards gave a statement: “Out of keenness to provide our customers with top-class comfort, luxury & safety, and next to our deep-seated belief in specialization, Living Yards has assigned a facility service company to manage about 1,230 residential & administrative units in three of our major projects so far. The total investments in living yards projects exceeded EGP 4 billion. We have selected EFS Misr in particular on grounds of their reputable expertise in various projects over nearly two decades.”

On behalf of EFS Misr, Mr. Rami Mansour, Chairman & CEO made a comment: “We are proud collaborate with Living Yards, and cherish their confidence in our capabilities. We are also grateful for the opportunity to partake in such a mega urban development national project. We promise to deliver world-class services; capitalizing on our 90+ projects experience in Egypt & the Middle East. Our portfolio comprises of managing facilities in Master Communities, Healthcare, Oil and Gas, Banking, Industrial, Public Sector, Integrated workplaces, Education, Retail and Mixed -use properties. We look forward to further Collaboration with Living Yards in the future.”

About Living Yards Development:
Living Yards Developments is owned by two mega economic establishments; AM Group and Egyptian Swiss Group. With more than 30 years of expertise in the fields of manufacturing & trading, 3000 employees and annual turnover of more than 4 billion EGP, the two groups guarantee a very strong financial and technical support to the company. Living Yards Developments is entering the market with a new inspiring vision. Introducing a unique concept to the real estate market. ‘Practical Luxury’ is the mix of value for money with lavishness and diversity with luxury. A new trend setter in the market where compromises don’t exist. Living Yards is a grand addition to the world of real estate that subscribes to the mantra of thinking the unthinkable, with the sole purpose of satisfying the unmet needs of our customers, through applying a novel methodology in delivering all of its projects.
For further info, please visit: https://www.livingyardsegypt.com/

About EFS Misr:
Back in 2015, EFS Group in Dubai made a strategic decision to enter the Facility management local market in Egypt with the creation of an independent subsidiary, named EFS Misr. EFS Misr endeavors to deliver quality facility management and value-added in managing facilities in Master Communities, Healthcare, Oil and Gas, Banking, Industrial, Public Sector, Integrated workplaces, Education, Retail and Mixed -use properties.

For further info, please visit: http://www.efsmi.com/

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Egypt Jumps Ten Places in ‘Global Knowledge Index’ in Only One Year

Published

5 months ago

December 13, 2020

Yara K

Egypt has jumped 10 places in just a year in the 2020 Global Knowledge Index (GKI), according to three infographics released by the Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center.

The index, which gets issued every year by the United Nations Development Programme and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, shows that Egypt has moved from the 82nd place to the 72nd in only one year.

The rankings are based on a survey done on the knowledge performance of 138 countries in 7 areas and 199 indicators. Egypt has shown great advancement in all areas, it moves 23 ranks up in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and 11 ranks up in Pre-University Education.

The index also highlighted Egypt’s points of strength in education sector, which included higher enrollment in universities and a significant decline in out-of-school children. There’s also an increase in the number of students enrolling in vocational and technical schools.

Switzerland, the United States, and Finland came on top of the 2020 index.