Vassilis Kikilias

Firefighters battled high winds and hot, dry weather on Thursday to put out three wildfires raging across Greece, including one in the Alexandroupoli region in the northeast that officials believe is the largest ever recorded in the European Union.

Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Thursday that there have been several attempts by arsonists to start new fires on Mount Parnitha, the largest forest bordering Athens, since Thursday morning, noting that fires started in several places at the same time.

Strong winds continued to fan Greece's fiery nightmare on Wednesday as firefighters, including foreign contingents, battled blazes around the country and on the outskirts of the capital that have already claimed 20 lives.

The dispersion of firefighting forces to deal with multiple fronts was confirmed by Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

Advancing flames devoured forests and homes as dozens of wildfires raged across Greece on Wednesday, leaving 20 people dead over the past three days.

Measures that include a ban on circulation in specific regions' mountain and urban forests and other locations prone to fires are some of the decisions made at an extraordinary interministerial meeting held at the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry earlier on Monday on the fires raging in Greece.

Individuals who are responsible for starting wildfires even unintentionally will face jail time and much heftier fines, ministers for Justice Giorgos Floridis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias said on Thursday after meeting to discuss new legislation governing arson-related crimes.

People who cause wildfires deliberately or through gross negligence will face stiffer fines and prison sentences under a legal amendment being prepared by the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, Vassilis Kikilias has said.

During an interview with newspaper To Vima on Sunday, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias discussed the forthcoming priorities to enhance Civil Protection.

Kikilias emphasized that their foremost concern is recruiting over 500 new firefighters to provide substantial support during wildfires. 

A lack of timely planning, the retirement of experienced officers and failure to implement crucial provisions of a three-year-old law, contributed, along with the adverse climatic conditions, to significant losses of forested land, estimated at over 40,000 hectares, some officials acknowledge privately.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Fire Service's special aerial operations units at the Elefsina Air Base, the 383rd Special Operations & Air Firefighting Squadron, and the 355th Tactical Transport Squadron on Saturday to express his support for the crews fighting to contain numerous wildfires that have ravaged areas in Attica over the past week amid scorching temperatures.