Greek blaze inquiry examines ‘criminal acts’

GREECE has opened a criminal investigation into the deadly wildfires that devastated a coastal resort near Athens this week.

It came as Alex Tspiras, the prime minister, said he assumed “political responsibility” for the tragedy.

Nikos Toskas, the deputy citizen protection minister, said there were “serious” signs that the worst of the fires was the result of arson, telling reporters on Thursday that “a serious piece of information has led us to opening an investigation” into “possible criminal acts” over the blazes.

At a cabinet meeting broadcast by Greek media, Mr Tsipras said he wanted first of all “to assume completely before the great Greek people the political responsibility for this tragedy”.

“That is what the prime minister and the government should do,” he added. As the investigation began, coroners completed autopsies on the victims caught up in Greece’s worst fires in decades, most of whom were killed in the Mati area.

In a sign of the severity of the fire, the Athens forensics department said that it had identified 86 separate victims after testing, rather than the original 83 people initially thought to be involved. Rescuers are continuing to search the area near the port of Rafina.