Wildfires still raging in northeastern Greece/Ayhan Mehmet/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
2023.08.26 Sat posted at 13:30 JST
(CNN) Greek police have so far arrested 79 people on arson-related charges. A government spokesperson told the public broadcaster EPT on the 25th. The country is suffering from some of the worst wildfires in the European Union (EU) history.
Wildfires on Mount Parnitsa, north of the capital Athens, were still burning as of Monday, with more forest burning overnight.
And the extent of the country’s largest wildfires still looms near the northeastern town of Alexandroupolis.
The burned body of a man was found on the road near a national park near the border with Turkey. 25, state media reported.
Eighteen burned bodies were found near a village in the north earlier this week, and another died in a wildfire in Athens.
Burnt ruins of a facility where 18 bodies were found after a wildfire
“What is happening is not only unacceptable, it is disgusting and criminal,” Climate Crisis Minister Kikirias said in a statement following the arrests in connection with the arson. He said the suspects had committed crimes against the state and would be held accountable by the judiciary.
More than 73,000 hectares have been destroyed by wildfires in Alexandroupolis, officially recognized as the largest wildfire ever reported in the EU. EU Commissioner Lenaručić (in charge of crisis management) made the announcement.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Commissioner said that countries and countries must continue to step up prevention and response efforts in anticipation of more intense wildfires.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), 130,000 hectares of land have been burned across Greece so far, making it one of the largest wildfires ever recorded in an EU member state.
CNN’s team in Mount Parnitsa saw several helicopters pouring water into the blaze on Monday, but officials said the helicopters had to stop working at night, so the fire was extinguished. The work is said to be more difficult.
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2023-08-26 04:30:00
