Video Greece: a massive vegetation fire burned houses, olive orchards and forced the evacuation of several villages on the island of Chios / the suspicion of the authorities

The origin of this massive fire, which broke out in three simultaneous outbreaks in just 90 minutes, on Sunday, generated strong suspicions, writes the Greek Reporter. The Greek authorities, who suspect that the fire had intentionally, have launched an investigation.

The authorities of Elene Chios are fought on Monday morning with a vegetation fire that ravages on three fronts, demanding the maximum firefighters and chasing people in the houses.

The flames, which broke out in a wooded area near Chios, have forced the evacuation of 16 settlements and consumed olive orchards, greenhouses, houses and vital infrastructure, writes Greek Reporter.

The strong winds greatly make the fire extinguishing efforts considerably, fueling the flames that threaten the residential areas.

Around 190 firefighters are currently held on the island, supported by specialized units, 23 vehicles, 2 planes and 11 helicopters, including a coordination helicopter.

The reinforcements arise constantly, with additional firefighters and equipment on the road from Piraeus and Thessaloniki.

The municipality of Chios has launched an urgent call for water, food and medical supplies to support volunteers and firefighters. Local accommodation facilities for displaced persons are also available.

The suspicions of the authorities

The origin of this massive fire, which broke out in three simultaneous outbreaks in just 90 minutes, on Sunday, generated strong suspicions, writes the Greek Reporter.

The Greek authorities, who suspect that the fire had intentionally, have launched an investigation.

The minister of the climatic crisis and civil protection, Yiannis Kefalogiannis, condemned these potentially deliberate acts, warning that the authorities will apply “severe criminal and administrative sanctions” to all responsible.

“No one can endanger lives and properties without being punished,” he said, expressing his deep concern about the recent fires in Greece.

“In the last 48 hours I had 110 fires, and most did not spread due to the immediate mobilization of firefighters. However, fires such as those in Chios, where three different parallel outbreaks broke, cause concern and raise suspicions,” noted the Greek minister.

Is Greece ready for the fire season?

Chios fire is the worst this season, writes Greek Reporter. But these disasters have unfortunately become a habit in recent years.

In 2021, 1,300 square kilometers of vegetation were destroyed by fires.

In 2023, the damages caused by the forest fires increased to 1,745 square kilometers-about three times more than the average of 2011-2020, according to the data of the Forest Fire Information System.

In 2023, one of the largest forest fires ever registered in Europe burned for weeks in northern Greece, killing at least twenty people.

Last month, Greece organized a large exercise to test the country's response to forest fires, which are increasingly based on a larger number of firefighters and advanced technologies, such as drone surveillance.