Thessaloniki prosecutors investigate DEDDIE electrical grid role in fires

The Head of the Thessaloniki Court of Appeal, Leonidas Nikolopoulos, has ordered a preliminary investigation into whether faults or maintenance issues within the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) contributed to recent fires in Thessaloniki.

The investigation follows reports and social media footage, including a video from Evosmos, which appears to show sparks falling from electrical cables onto dry vegetation. Prosecutors are examining whether the network's infrastructure and maintenance protocols could be considered a criminal factor in the ignition of these fires.

Authorities are expected to question officials from both the Fire Service and DEDDIE. This inquiry comes amid broader concerns regarding electrical infrastructure; preliminary data from the Arson Crimes Directorate suggests that fires linked to electrical networks may account for a significant portion of the land area destroyed by wildfires in Greece during the current period.