Rethymno Fire Arson Caught on Camera. Two Dead
Security camera footage obtained by Greek fire authorities appears to show a man deliberately starting the deadly wildfire that tore through the Rethymno region of Crete, killing two people and burning a path from Asomatos all the way to Preveli.
The footage shows a man who appears familiar with the area walking toward a cluster of bushes and stopping there for 46 seconds. He then leaves, appearing to carry an object, and within minutes, smoke begins rising from the exact spot where he had been standing. As flames erupt, the man is seen running away while the fire rapidly spirals out of control, driven by strong winds.
The man stopped at a cluster of bushes for 46 seconds — within minutes, smoke began rising from the exact spot.
Fire service and police officers are now reviewing all available security camera footage from across the wider area to trace the suspect's movements. Investigators are also collecting witness statements from local residents in an effort to identify him.
The fire burned through a large stretch of the Rethymno countryside, leaving behind two fatalities, destroyed properties, and what authorities describe as massive ecological damage to one of Crete's most scenic coastal regions, including the area around Preveli lagoon.
Greek authorities have not made an arrest yet, but officials are treating arson as the leading theory based on what they describe as strong evidence from the footage.
