A 52-year-old man has been arrested on the Greek island of Evia, accused of starting a fire that devastated part of the island between Friday evening and Saturday morning, firefighters reported.
The suspect was allegedly clearing vegetation on a plot of land when the fire broke out and quickly spiralled out of control, according to public broadcaster ERT.
Some 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) were burned on Evia, located northeast of Athens, the Greek news agency ANA said.
Greek firefighters remained on high alert on Saturday amid soaring temperatures and strong winds across the country.
The National Meteorological Service (EMY) forecast temperatures of 41 to 42 degrees Celsius (105.8 to 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.
A separate fire that erupted on Friday in the municipality of Koropi, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) east of Athens, was brought under control by Saturday, authorities said.
Approximately 800 people were evacuated, and an investigation was launched to determine whether the Koropi fire was caused by negligence or deliberate action.
In late June, a Georgian woman employed as a house cleaner was arrested after admitting to causing a fire on the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette butt. The blaze destroyed over 4,000 hectares.
She was fined €10,000 and sentenced to three years in prison.
Greece has become increasingly vulnerable to summer wildfires, fuelled by strong winds, drought, and high temperatures linked to climate change.
Last year, around 45,000 hectares were scorched, but 2023 remains the most destructive year on record, with nearly 175,000 hectares burned and 20 fatalities.
