Massive fires of Chios: A stranger was arrested after throwing a cigarette on the floor and will be judged quickly
Intervention of emergency forces on Chios Island, affected by massive fires. Photo: Jam Press / Jam Press / Profimedia
A woman from Georgia accused of provoking one of the many fires that devastated Chios Island in the east of the Aegean will be compassion before the court to respond to involuntary arson charges, writes The Guardian.
Representatives of the Greek firefighters said that the woman, employed as a housekeeper on the island of Chios, the place of origin of some of the richest families of shipowners in Greece, “confessed” that she caused the fire when she neglected a cigarette.
Lieutenant Constantine Kozanis told the British publication that the woman, whose name was not made public, will be tried on Thursday. “It is detained overnight and will compare tomorrow before the court,” he said.
“Because she was caught in flagrant, the process will run quickly, now that she compared in front of the prosecutor. In the statement given to the firefighters, she acknowledged that she had thrown a cigarette that caused one of the [cinci] Fire fronts ”.
Also, several witnesses said they saw what had happened.
Over 4,000 hectares of flames
Massive fires broke out on the island of Chios on Sunday in the Aegean and destroyed over 4,000 hectares of land covered mainly with three -day bushes and pastures, the Ministry of Climate and Civil Protection in Greece said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. On the island of Chios was declared a state of emergency.
Firefighters said in a statement that the woman was arrested on Tuesday evening and that the authorities are still investigating the cause of fires.
Although the fires were largely extinguished until Wednesday, hundreds of firefighters remained on the island of Chios to prevent the fire and to keep all the fronts under control, the Greek firefighters said.
Located in the southern extremity of Europe, Greece is often affected by fires during hot and dried summers, but authorities say that rapid climatic changes feed more destructive fires.
The Greek government has paid hundreds of millions of euros for damages for the damages caused by the extreme weather conditions for farmers and households, plus for the modernization of fire extinguishing equipment.
In anticipating a difficult fire season, the number of firefighters was increased at a record level of 18,000 this year. They will be helped by 294 firefighters from five European countries between July 1 and September 15.
