Eleven people were arrested across Greece in just 48 hours as wildfires swept through the Argolida region, with investig...

Eleven people were arrested across Greece in just 48 hours as wildfires swept through the Argolida region, with investigators pointing to reckless human activity as the cause of the destruction. The blaze that erupted Friday morning near Fichti in the municipality of Argos-Mycenae was traced directly to a couple using a tractor fitted with a rotary mower. The sparks thrown by the machine ignited the surrounding area. Both the 57-year-old man and 53-year-old woman were arrested on the spot by Greek Forest Fire Investigation Unit officers. The arrests came despite active Category 5 extreme fire danger warnings, the highest level on the scale, which had been in place across the region. Authorities say hazardous agricultural and other "hot works" continued in Attica and beyond, in open defiance of the warnings. The Greek Fire Service reported that the Argolida fire was not an isolated incident. Arrests spanned multiple regions over the 48-hour period, underscoring the scale of the problem. Authorities made clear that enforcement operations will continue at full intensity throughout the fire season. Fire Service data covering January 1 through August 1, 2026 reflects what officials are calling an alarming pattern of negligence by both individuals and businesses. The service has stated publicly that protecting human life and the environment is a collective responsibility, and that patrols and checks will not ease up. Greece has been battling severe wildfire conditions across much of its territory this summer, with drought and high winds creating near-constant extreme risk. The arrests signal a harder line from authorities after years of calls for stricter accountability. #Greece #Wildfires #FireSeason