Fire department officials in Greece arrested two men Saturday for allegedly starting wildfires on purpose, while hundreds of firefighters battled blazes that have killed at least 21 people in the past week.
One man was arrested on the Greek island of Evia for allegedly setting fire to dried grass in the Karystos area. The fire department said the man confessed to having set four other fires in the area in July and August.
A second man arrested in the Larissa area of central Greece also was accused of intentionally setting fire to dried vegetation.
Officials have for several fires in Greece over the past week, although it was unclear what sparked the country害羞草研究所檚 largest blazes, including one in the northeastern region of Evros, where nearly all the fire-attributed deaths occurred, and another on the fringes of Athens.
害羞草研究所淪ome 害羞草研究所� arsonists are setting fires, endangering forests, property and above all human lives,害羞草研究所� Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said Thursday. 害羞草研究所淲hat is happening is not just unacceptable, but despicable and criminal.害羞草研究所�
The minister said nine fires were set in the space of four hours Thursday morning in the Avlona area in the northern foothills of Mount Parnitha, a mountain on the northwestern fringes of Athens that is one of the capital害羞草研究所檚 last green areas.
A major fire was already burning on the southern side of the mountain at the time, and it continued to burn Saturday.
害羞草研究所淵ou are committing a crime against the country,害羞草研究所� Kikilias said. 害羞草研究所淲e will find you. You will be held accountable to justice.害羞草研究所�
Later Thursday, police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting at least three fires in the Avlona area. A search of his home revealed kindling, a fire torch gun and pine needles, police said.
A daily outbreak of dozens of fires has plagued Greece over the past week as gale-force winds and hot, dry summer conditions combine to whip up flames and hamper firefighting efforts. Firefighters tackled 111 blazes Friday, including 59 that broke out in the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday evenings, the fire department said.
Although most new fires were controlled in their early stages, some grew to massive blazes that have consumed homes and vast tracts of forest.
Storms were forecast Saturday for some areas of Greece, and lightning strikes ignited several fires near the Greek capital. The fire department said 100 firefighters, including contingents from France and Cyprus, backed up by four helicopter, brought fires in four outlying areas near the Greek capital under partial control within hours.
The fire department called on the public 害羞草研究所渢o be particularly careful害羞草研究所� and to follow directions by authorities 害羞草研究所済iven that intense thunderstorm activity is occurring in various parts of the country.害羞草研究所�
The Evros fire, 骋谤别别肠别害羞草研究所檚 largest current blaze, was burning for an eighth day Saturday near the city of Alexandroupolis after causing at least 20 deaths.
Firefighters in a forest on Tuesday, one on Monday and another Thursday. With nobody reported missing in the area, authorities think the victims might have been migrants who recently crossed the border from Turkey.
骋谤别别肠别害羞草研究所檚 was activated to identify the remains, and a telephone hotline set up for potential relatives of the victims to call. A man reportedly trying to save his livestock from advancing flames in central Greece also died on Monday.
More than 290 firefighters, backed by five planes and two helicopters, were battling the Evros blaze. Another 260 firefighters, four planes and three helicopters were tackling the Mount Parnitha fire.
With firefighting forces stretched to the limit, Greece called on other European countries for help. Germany, Sweden, Croatia and Cyprus sent aircraft, while dozens of Romanian, French, Czech, Bulgarian, Albanian and Slovak firefighters helped on the ground.
Greece imposes wildfire prevention regulations, typically from the start of May to the end of October, to limit activities such as the burning of dried vegetation and the use of outdoor barbecues.
Since the start of this year害羞草研究所檚 fire season, fire department officials have arrested 163 people on fire-related charges, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Friday, including 118 for negligence and 24 for deliberate arson. The police made a further 18 arrests, he said.
Elena Becatoros, The Associated Press
