Greek fire officials arrest 2 for arson as multiple wildfires continue to burn across the country
Aug 26, 2023, 8:20 AM
Flames burn a forest during a wildfire in Avantas village, near Alexandroupolis town, in the northeastern Evros region, Greece, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Gale-force winds are fanning the flames of wildfires across Greece, including 53 new blazes that broke out early Monday amid hot, dry and windy weather that has sucked moisture from vegetation. (AP Photo/Achilleas Chiras)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Achilleas Chiras)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Fire department officials say two men have been arrested in different parts of Greece on suspicion of deliberately starting wildfires.
One man was arrested on Saturday on the island of Evia for allegedly setting fire to dried grass. The fire department said he confessed to having set four other fires in July and August. A second man arrested in central Greece also was accused of intentionally setting fire to dried vegetation.
Officials have blamed arson for several fires that broke out in Greece in the past week. It wasn’t clear what sparked the country’s largest blaze, which burned for an eighth day in the northeastern region of Evros and has killed at least 20 people.
