Firestorm Across Greece

The Greeks are facing a disaster of epic proportions as large swaths of their country are aflame or are threatened by fires. Heroic efforts staved the fires from destroying major antiquities including the Olympic center at Olympia.

Even as the fires are being fought and new ones crop up, investigators are looking into whether those involved in starting the fires may be charged under Greece's anti-terrorism laws:

A top prosecutor ordered an investigation Monday into whether this summer’s arson attacks in Greek forests could be considered terrorism, the Public Order Ministry said.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out on the fringes of Athens a day after a massive effort prevented the birthplace of the Olympics from being devastated by flames.

Dimitris Papangelopoulos, who is responsible for prosecuting terrorism and organized crime, ordered the investigation to determine “whether the crimes of arsonists and of arson attacks on forests” could come under Greece’s anti-terrorism law, the ministry said in a statement.

Many towns and villages have been reduced to piles of ash. People have lost everything - their homes, their property, and their jobs. A government payout of $15,000 isn't going to be nearly enough.

New fires are being reported almost by the hour.

Photos of the devastation are heartbreaking as towns and villages throughout Southern Greece are destroyed or threatened by the relentless flames.

UPDATE:
Arson and homicide charges have been filed against one person in connection with a fire near the southern town of Areopolis on Friday that killed six people.

Several people have been arrested on suspicion of arson since Friday, although some were accused of starting fires through negligence rather than intent. One man, however, was charged with arson and homicide in connection with a fire near the southern town of Areopolis on Friday that killed six people.

Building on forest land is forbidden in Greece, but unscrupulous developers are blamed for setting fires to forests in an effort to circumvent the law by disputing the area's status. Greece has no land registry, so once a region has been burned and cleared, there is no definitive proof of whether it was initially forest, farm or field.

"It is rather late now, but the state should designate these areas to be immediately reforested, map them and complete the forest registry without further delay," said Yiannis Revythis, chairman of the association of Athens real estate agents.

The destruction has infuriated Greeks — already stunned by deadly forest fires in June and July. Outraged residents heckled Culture Minister George Voulgarakis Sunday when he visited Ancient Olympia to see the firefighting efforts.