Defective energy cable might have precipitated Greece’s worst wildfire this 12 months, sources say
By Renee Maltezou and Yannis Souliotis
ATHENS (Reuters) – Investigators suspect a defective energy cable might have precipitated Greece’s worst wildfire this 12 months, mentioned sources near a probe over the blaze that killed one girl and torched 10,000 hectares close to Athens, masking a complete space concerning the measurement of Paris.
The blaze, which started on Aug. 11, broke out from a forest off Varnavas city, 35 km (22 miles) from the capital and into Athens’ northern suburbs, a few of which had by no means seen a wildfire earlier than, inside a day.
Authorities have questioned Varnavas residents as a part of their investigation into what precipitated the blaze. A 76-year outdated man mentioned a picket electrical energy pillar exterior his house, which had a free cable mounted to it with a hanger, may have triggered it, officers mentioned.
That state of affairs was the main one within the probe, which must be concluded over the approaching months, an official with data of the investigation mentioned. Arson was additionally being thought-about.
A fireplace brigade official who declined to be named mentioned an space near the electrical energy pole had been decided as the place to begin of the blaze.
Wildfires have been a standard characteristic of Greek summers for years, with many attributed to voluntary or involuntary arson, short-circuits or sometimes, to pure causes. The nation registered greater than 8,000 forest fires in 2023.
Lately, the chance of such fires has been raised by local weather change, which has introduced hotter climate and fewer rain.
A prosecutor has deployed engineers to look into the most recent wildfire’s trigger.
Greece’s energy community operator HEDNO, mentioned it had discovered no proof of a malfunction.
“We now have no indication that something fallacious resembling a short-circuit occurred,” an official at HEDNO advised Reuters including that solely the related authorities have been liable for figuring out the fireplace’s trigger.
Native media cited residents who had heard explosions earlier than the fireplace broke out. Others mentioned there have been initially two fires.
Milder winds have calmed the blaze which lined a distance of 40 kilometres (24.85 miles) earlier than reaching the Athens’ suburbs of Penteli and Vrilissia, the place one girl was killed.
Nonetheless, flare-ups have been attainable, officers have warned, as winds are anticipated to select up once more.
Sunday’s fast-paced hearth broke out amid a week-long excessive hearth threat alert because of excessive temperatures and gale pressure winds.
Greece had its warmest winter on file this 12 months and was on observe for its hottest summer time with scant rain in lots of areas, a recipe for hearth disasters, in line with firefighters.
“The fireplace began very removed from right here, in all probability from an influence line and very quickly it burned all the pieces,” 78-year outdated Varnavas resident Giannis Tsiminis advised Reuters on Wednesday.
(This story has been refiled to alter the attribution to ‘sources,’ not ‘investigators,’ within the headline)
(Reporting by Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou; Modifying by Bernadette Baum)
