ENGLISH SECTION
10/08/2025 | 13:00
Two power company employees arrested for fire in Keratea; More than 1,580 hectares burnt
Two employees of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) were arrested on Saturday by the directorate for crimes of arson, in connection with the major wildfire that started in Keratea on Friday and burnt more than 1,580 hectares in Keratea.
According to fire department sources, they are accused of negligence in the maintenance of the network after investigators determined that the fire started due to a spark from a severed HEDNO cable that set fire to grasses around the base on an electricity pole that were quickly fanned into a major fire by strong winds. This is also confirmed by two witness accounts and the findings of an expert assessor, who attributed the severed cable to poor maintenance.
Initially, authorities detained two employees who were sent to repair the damage to the cable and a public prosecutor was informed, who ordered that they be held.
The two employees asserted that they are not responsible for maintenance but for repairing faults. Authorities are therefore also seeking another HEDNO employee who is responsible for the exploitation, maintenance and operation of the network in the Mesogaia area. The two men are to appear before a public prosecutor on Sunday.
According to figures based on satellite images taken on Saturday at 12:19, released Copernicus, the fire burnt 1,580.8 hectares in its path, killing one man and destroying homes and property.
Due to strenuous efforts by fire fighters, the flames did not reach the Sounio National Park and did not burn forested areas, being largely confined to grassland and scrub.
In a detailed breakdown of the burnt land, Copernicus said this included:
1,126.7 hectares of grassland and scrubland
251.9 hectares of agricultural/mixed land
81.1 hectares of other uses
64.3 hectares of pasture
44 hectares of open land with little vegetation
12.7 hectares of crops
0 hectares of forest/forested land
The images released by Copernicus show the area affected by the fire on Friday, as well as an earlier fire in Thymari on June 26 in yellow.
Source: ANA – MPA
