Authorities in Greece have detained 79 individuals on charges of arson following a series of devastating wildfires that wreaked havoc throughout the country over the course of the summer. Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kiklias expressed on Thursday that the perpetrators behind these acts of arson have resurfaced and are once again igniting fires across Greece.
In a briefing, Kikilias emphasized, “Arsonist scum are responsible for setting fires that endanger forests, properties, and above all, people’s lives. Rest assured, you will not escape the consequences of your actions. We will track you down and hold you accountable.”
According to government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, out of the 140 arrests related to wildfires, 79 were directly linked to acts of arson. Greece has been experiencing a continuous outbreak of numerous fires on a daily basis for the past week due to gale-force winds and dry, scorching summer conditions, which have impeded firefighting efforts.
As of Sunday, firefighters across Greece were combatting over 100 wildfires, with 46 of them erupting between Saturday evening and Sunday evening alone, according to the fire department. In the northeastern regions of Evros and Alexandroupolis, a vast wildfire that has been burning for nine days is believed to be responsible for 20 out of the 21 deaths related to wildfires in the past week. This blaze, formed by the amalgamation of several smaller fires, represents one of the largest single wildfires to strike an EU country. It has ravaged extensive areas of forest and destroyed homes in the outskirts of the city of Alexandroupolis.
The European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service reported that this wildfire has charred nearly 300 square miles of land and continues to exhibit 120 active hotspots.
Given the strain on firefighting resources, Greece has requested assistance from other European nations. Germany, Sweden, Croatia, and Cyprus have dispatched aircraft, while firefighters from Romania, France, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Albania, Slovakia, and Serbia are providing support on the ground.
Southern European countries, with their arid, hot summers, are especially susceptible to wildfires. In Greece, regulations for wildfire prevention are typically enforced from May to October, restricting activities like burning dry vegetation and using outdoor barbecues.
Remember to stay updated with the latest news by downloading the FOX NEWS APP.
Please note that the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: AP Newsroom
Image Source: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
