A first investigation by experts of the Greek fire service has revealed that the fatal fire in the east of Athens has different causes with at least 96 fatalities. Accordingly, a careless resident, missing firefighters and strong winds are responsible for the disaster.

The report, published on several Greek news portals on Tuesday, identifies a resident of the disaster area as a catalyst. He is said to have sparked the devastating fire when, on July 23, he burned dried up twigs and then failed to properly extinguish the hearth.

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Forest fires in Greece: Inferno near Athens

Strong winds would have sparked the still burning fire in the undergrowth. In addition, numerous firefighting vehicles of the fire department and helicopters and aircraft were not immediately ready for use because of another major fire in the west of Athens, it was said. There were also coordination problems and delays in the evacuation of threatened areas.

More than 4,000 houses in the Mati, Marathon and Rafina holiday areas in eastern Athens were completely destroyed or seriously damaged during the fires. Several people are still being treated in hospitals for burns.

Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Nikos Toskas, had run out of arson shortly after the fire broke out. There is serious evidence that the particularly destructive fire at the coastal town of Mati goes back to "criminal acts," he said in late July. Corresponding evidence had been handed over to the Greek judiciary, which initiated its own investigations.

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