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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 16, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Israeli arrested in Greece for sparking wildfire
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Illustrative: A woman covers her face to protect herself from smoke during a wildfire in Siviri, on the Chalkidiki peninsula in northern Greece, August 13, 2026. (AP/Giannis Papanikos)
Greek authorities say they have arrested a 35-year-old Israeli national on suspicion of starting a wildfire on the island of Crete, as the country battles a seasonal spurt of deadly blazes.
The man, who is not named, is accused of lighting a barbecue in a forested area near the town of Rethimno on Crete’s northern coast, despite a burn ban being in effect across the island, according to the E-Kathimerini news site.
According to Walla, authorities suspect that embers from the barbecue were carried by high winds from the guesthouse where he was staying, sparking the fire.
He is accused of negligent arson.
Firefighters managed to get the blaze under control after four hours, according to the report.
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