Greek Mayor Detained Over Massive Forest Fire West of Athens

Greek authorities have placed the mayor of a town in the western Athens region under pre-trial detention. He faces accusations of responsibility for a devastating forest fire that ravaged more than 10,000 hectares of land the previous week. The detention follows a lengthy interrogation that concluded early Friday morning.

Alongside the mayor, an entrepreneur whose electrical installation company is connected to a wind farm in the affected area has also been detained. Both individuals are charged with "voluntary fire-setting in a forest" and "endangering public utility installations." They could face prison sentences exceeding ten years.

Initial investigations suggest the fire ignited last Friday near Agios Vassilios, a seaside village northwest of Athens. An electrical spark from cables managed by a private company reportedly started the blaze. Residents, speaking on social media, noted that these cables belonged to a wind farm installed over a decade ago. Some villagers had previously filed legal challenges against the wind farm's installation, but these were unsuccessful.

The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds, with gusts reaching 130 km/h over the weekend. It consumed over 11,000 hectares in five days, causing "severe environmental damage," according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The blaze also damaged more than 120 buildings and homes in the resort town of Porto Germeno, located on the Corinthian Gulf.

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We will do everything in our power to promote natural regeneration.