Greek Fires Probed; Toll Hits 61

A prosecutor will probe whether the fires can be considered terrorism

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 27, 2007 7:26 AM CDT

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Greek Fires Probed; Toll Hits 61 — A man looks at blazes burning a mountain next to the village of Theologos in Evia island on Monday Aug. 27, 2007. Firefighters backed by aircraft prevented the birthplace of the ancient Olympics from being consumed by flames Sunday as Greece's worst wildfires in memory blazed across the country and... (Associated Press)

A day after flames were beaten back at the ruins of ancient Olympia, Greek officials are considering whether the blazes still raging across the country can be considered terrorism, and arsonists prosecuted accordingly. Wildfires started in may disparate places have killed at least 61 people. Several people have been held on suspicion of arson, and one man charged with arson and homicide.

At Olympia, helicopters and aircraft covered the ruins with water and foam as flames destroyed the forest around the ruins and seared grass right up to the edge of the stadium. "It's hell everywhere; I've never seen anything like it," a resident told the AP. (More Greece stories.)

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