Beleaguered firefighters trying to curb Greece’s worst wildfire season on record battled two major blazes on Friday: one in Evros, home to what an official has called the biggest wildfire the European Union has faced, and the other near Athens, the capital.
Greek authorities investigating the causes of the fires arrested dozens of people on suspicion of arson.
“It’s a very difficult summer,” a government spokesman, Pavlos Marinakis, said at a news briefing on Friday, blaming “the explosive mix of climate change” along with arson.
He said that 160 people had been arrested across the country on arson charges, 42 of them accused of intentional arson and the remainder accused of setting fires through neglect.
State inspectors started evaluating the damage to land and homes south of the mountain, where the flames had been doused.
Persons:
“, Pavlos Marinakis, ”
Organizations:
European Union
Locations:
Evros, Athens, ”, Parnitha