Over 300 arsonists have been arrested this year in Greece, announced Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the social media platform TikTok on Saturday.
Since the beginning of the year, approximately 45,000 hectares of forests, shrublands, and agricultural land have been destroyed by fires in Greece. This represents an area larger than the German city of Cologne. And according to the Greek meteorological service, the wildfire season has not yet ended.
According to Prime Minister Mitsotakis, the police have already arrested over 300 arsonists this year.
In this context, the Greek government adopted a new law this week. In the past, arsonists often escaped with light sentences (such as suspended prison terms or small fines), but now they face actual prison sentences, as well as more severe fines, which can amount to up to 200,000 euros.
The new legislation also allows for the confiscation of assets from the perpetrators of these crimes.