Greece Intensifies Crackdown on Arsonists Amidst Forest Fires

Greece is ramping up its efforts to combat arson as the country faces devastating forest fires this year. With over 300 suspected arsonists apprehended, the government is taking a firm stance against those responsible for the destruction of vast areas of land. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that the era of impunity for such crimes is over, following significant amendments to the law that impose severe penalties for offenders.

Since the beginning of the year, approximately 45,000 hectares of forests, scrubland, and agricultural areas have been consumed by flames, surpassing the size of the city of Cologne. The ongoing wildfire season has raised concerns as the number of arrests continues to climb. Mitsotakis recently highlighted this alarming statistic during a video message on social media, underscoring the catastrophic impact these fires have had on both people and the environment.

The prime minister noted that past instances often saw perpetrators receiving lenient sentences, but new legislative measures ensure that offenders now face substantial prison time without the option of probation or conversion to fines. The revised laws also allow for hefty financial penalties, reaching up to EUR30,000 for serious offenses and as much as EUR200,000 in cases of gross negligence.

Authorities have reported encouraging progress in identifying and capturing those responsible for setting the fires. On the island of Lesbos, a 57-year-old man confessed to igniting multiple blazes out of anger toward fellow villagers, which resulted in a significant emergency response from firefighting teams. Additionally, following a major fire near the port city of Patras, three young men were arrested based on eyewitness accounts, although their motives remain unclear.

In a separate incident in Corinth, workers cutting steel in a dry forest area were implicated in starting a fire due to sparks igniting the surrounding brush. Furthermore, some fires have been indirectly caused by poor maintenance of the electrical grid, with corroded cables contributing to a large blaze near Athens earlier this month. In many cases, however, the culprits remain elusive, with investigators often finding only remnants of accelerants like gas canisters or gasoline containers.

The government is now committed to ensuring that those found guilty of arson face the full extent of the law. This year has already seen one confirmed fatality due to the fires, alongside numerous animal deaths and the destruction of homes, vehicles, and storage facilities. While the current wildfire season is still ongoing, the preliminary assessment suggests a significant improvement compared to previous years, where devastating fires in 2023 ravaged 175,000 hectares--nearly two-thirds the size of Saarland.