Amidst the raging wildfires that have devastated Greece this summer, Greek officials have made a significant breakthrough by making 79 arrests associated with suspected arson activities.
On Thursday, Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias revealed that not only are arsonists continuing to ignite fires across the country, but there have also been new attempts to start blazes in the northwest region of Athens on Mount Parnitha. The death toll from the hundreds of wildfires now stands at 20.
“Arsonist scum are setting fires that threaten forests, property, and, most of all, human lives,” Kikilias strongly condemned during a briefing. “You will not get away with it. We will find you, and you will be held accountable.”
According to Stefan Doerr, the director of the Center for Wildfire Research at Swansea University, these alleged arsonists have taken advantage of the scorching heat and dry conditions this summer, allowing the wildfires to spread rapidly.
In a tragic discovery, authorities found the bodies of 19 individuals, believed to be migrants along with children, near the Evros region of northeastern Greece in the aftermath of a wildfire.
The magnitude of the devastation caused by the wildfires in Alexandroupolis is unprecedented among European Union member states, with over 180,400 acres burned, as stated by the European Union’s Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic. “We must continue strengthening national and collective prevention and preparedness efforts in view of more brutal fire seasons,” Lenarcic added.
The wildfires have scorched a total of over 321,000 acres in Greece, setting a new record for the European Forest Fire Information System.
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