Amidst the devastating wildfires that have swept across Greece, the country’s Minister for Citizen Protection, Notis Mitarachi, has resigned from his position. The resignation came on Friday after Mitarachi was spotted on vacation on the picturesque island of Patmos, sparking criticism and calls for accountability.

As the minister responsible for public security services, including the police, Mitarachi had been actively involved in assisting the fire service in their efforts to combat the wildfires in various tourist destinations, near towns, and military bases over the past two weeks.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Mitarachi on Patmos island during his holiday, which raised eyebrows and questions about his commitment to the ongoing firefighting efforts. Greek newspaper Kathimerini highlighted the incident, stating that he had arrived on the island for a vacation and returned within a few hours, leaving people in the area puzzled by his actions.

In response to the mounting pressure and controversy, Mitarachi cited “personal reasons” for his resignation, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accepted it. The position will now be taken over by Yannis Oikonomou, the alternate sports minister.

The Greek government has faced criticism from opposition leaders over its handling of the wildfires, particularly after a fire spread to a military warehouse near a major air base, leading to explosions caused by ignited ammunition.

Syriza, the main political opposition party has also been very vocal, questioning the government’s accountability in the face of the ongoing crisis.

“Since ministers have started resigning for ‘personal reasons,’ is anyone thinking of taking responsibility for the images of collapse and destruction we are witnessing these days?,” Syriza quipped.

As Greece grapples with record-breaking temperatures, the battle against the wildfires continues. While the fire service has managed to bring the fires under control, they are still dealing with flareups. Tragically, five people have lost their lives, and 74 others have been injured as a result of the wildfires over the past week. The situation remains a significant concern for the country, and calls for accountability and effective management persist in the face of this ongoing crisis.