Greek mayor, two others charged with arson over wildfire near Athens

A Greek mayor who owns an electrical company and two other individuals have been placed in pre-trial detention after being charged with arson in connection with a wildfire that devastated areas near Athens. Investigators believe the fire, which began on July 31, originated from a spark caused by power cables at a wind farm.

The wind farm is reportedly linked to the electrical installation company owned by Giannis Apostolou, the mayor of Stylida. He, along with a contractor for his company and the wind farm's owner, faces accusations of arson and damaging public utilities. If convicted, they could receive sentences exceeding 10 years.

The blaze, fueled by strong winds reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour, spread rapidly from an overhead power line. It consumed forest, scrubland, and olive groves, and damaged more than 120 buildings and homes in the seaside resort of Porto Germeno. Authorities have suspended operations at the wind farm, where a previous fire had occurred on the same power line in June. Residents had previously attempted to block the wind farm's installation over a decade ago.

Greece has been battling numerous wildfires since late July, resulting in five deaths, including three firefighters. Two helicopter crew members also died in a mid-air collision while fighting flames. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such fires to man-made climate change, which exacerbates extreme heat and drought conditions.