In August, a group of 18 Syrian asylum seekers on their way to Europe were caught between Greek police and a forest fire. “The fire has reached us,” one of the men said in a video sent to his family. “All the woods to our left are on fire and the fire is behind us,” another said in a voicemail. Then the messages stopped.

Basel al-Ahmad is the only one officially identified from the group of 18 migrants who died in the devastating fire in GreecePhoto: Colaj fanatik.ro

Crossing the difficult and forested terrain of northeastern Greece, 18 asylum seekers faced a painful dilemma: take the safer route through villages and highways, risking the Greek authorities, or travel through forests and fields devastated by Europe’s biggest wildfire. They chose forests.

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The article is supported by fanatik.ro