Greek mayor charged with arson over wildfire near Athens

Published Aug 7, 01:26 PM UTC

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Greek authorities have charged Giannis Apostolou, mayor of Stylida, along with a contractor and a wind farm owner, with arson and damaging public utilities over a wildfire that ravaged areas near Athens on July 31. Investigators believe the blaze was sparked by power cables at a wind farm near Agios Vasileios. The mayor owns an electrical installation company linked to the wind farm. The fire, fanned by winds up to 130 km/h, spread rapidly, damaging over 120 buildings and homes in Porto Germeno and destroying forest, scrubland, and olive groves. A previous fire had occurred on the same power line on June 27. The wind farm's operations have been suspended. If convicted, the three face over 10 years in prison. The wildfire is part of a series of blazes in Greece since late July that have killed five people, including three firefighters and two helicopter crew members. Scientists link such extreme fire conditions to climate change.

Source

EuractivWestern

Original headline: Greek mayor among three charged over wildfire near Athens

Original language: EN-GB