Greek mayor charged with arson over wildfire that damaged over 120 buildings

A Greek mayor, who owns an electrical company, and two other individuals have been charged with arson and placed in pre-trial detention following a wildfire that ravaged areas near Athens and damaged more than 120 buildings. Investigators suspect the blaze ignited on July 31 from a spark originating at a wind farm near Agios Vasileios, a village at the foot of a mountain northwest of Athens.

Giannis Apostolou, the mayor of Stylida, is accused alongside a contractor from his company and the wind farm's owner. Greek media reported that they face charges of arson and damaging public utilities, with potential sentences exceeding 10 years if convicted. Authorities have suspended operations at the wind farm, which straddles the Boeotia and Attica regions.

The fire, fueled by wind gusts reaching up to 130 km/h, quickly spread from an overhead medium-voltage power line. It moved towards Mount Kithairon's southern slopes and reached a town approximately 40 km from Athens. The wind turbine owner is specifically accused of failing to clear vegetation. This incident follows a previous fire on the same power line on June 27. Residents had previously attempted to legally block the wind farm's installation over a decade ago.

Beyond the destruction of forests, olive groves, and scrubland, the fire damaged homes and buildings in the seaside resort of Porto Germeno, situated on the Gulf of Corinth. Greece has experienced numerous wildfires since late July, resulting in five fatalities, including three firefighters. Two helicopter crew members also died in a mid-air collision while combating flames. Scientists have repeatedly warned that human-caused climate change intensifies extreme heat and drought, creating conditions ripe for widespread wildfires.