Mayor detained over recent large wildfire near Athens

A Greek court has ordered the pre-trial detention of three individuals, including the mayor of Stilida, Ioannis Apostolou, in connection with a major wildfire that ravaged 14,400 hectares in the Attica and Boeotia regions last week. The decision followed a 20-hour hearing before an investigating judge.

Authorities suspect that faulty electrical transmission cables, installed by Apostolou's company in Boeotia, sparked the blaze. The cables were reportedly laid in an area with dense, uncut vegetation, creating a high risk of ignition. In addition to the mayor, a contractor and the owner of another company involved in the project were also placed in pre-trial detention.

This devastating fire forced the evacuation of thousands of residents from dozens of localities and destroyed one of the last remaining virgin forests west of Athens. Tragically, two pilots, one Greek and one Danish, died when their water-bombing helicopter collided with another aircraft during firefighting operations.

Under Greek law, individuals found guilty of causing fires, whether through negligence or intent, face severe penalties. The three detainees could be sentenced to between 10 years in prison and life imprisonment if convicted, reflecting the government's efforts to increase penalties for arson, as implemented in 2021.