Fire investigation

A total of 52 agricultural and forest fires broke out in the last 24 hours across the country. According to the Fire Service, 42 of these were immediately addressed in their initial stages, while firefighting forces are still dealing with 10.

A total of 23 agroforestry fires have occurred in the last 24 hours across the country. Of these, the Fire Department says 19 were dealt with immediately, at their initial stage, while firefighters are still dealing with four more.

A total of 43 agroforestry fires were reported across the country in the last 24 hours. Of those, the Fire Department says 39 were dealt with immediately, at their initial stage, while firefighters are still dealing with 4.

Evidence of a deliberate attempt to commit insurance fraud and wriggle out of prosecution for other potential crimes, including delivering tainted meals to schools, appears to be piling up against the owners and/or management of a disgraced food factory in the central Greek city of Lamia.

The local investigative offices and teams of the Directorate of Arson Investigation are investigating the causes of the fires

In what could be a foretaste of the summer, the Fire Service said on Thursday that a total of 67 blazes in forest and agricultural areas occurred in a 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday.

Of these, the Fire Service said 56 were dealt with immediately, at their initial stage, while firefighters were tackling 11 more.

An elderly woman was found dead Tuesday following an apartment fire on Alexandras Avenue, in central Athens.

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

The identity of the victim has not been made public.

A woman killed in a gas explosion at a sandwich shop in downtown Athens on Thursday morning has been identified as accountant and mother of two Vassiliki Parastatidou.

Fire investigators say that the explosion on busy Victoria Square was probably caused by welders working in the shop who accidentally cut the gas line.