Arrests after yacht fireworks spark Greece forest blaze
Thirteen individuals have been apprehended in connection with a forest fire on the Greek island of Hydra, reportedly ignited by fireworks discharged from a yacht.
According to officials’ Facebook post on Friday, the blaze ravaged the island’s sole pine forest, a popular tourist attraction located south of Athens. Despite significant challenges, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control.
Accessing the site was particularly arduous due to the absence of roads, requiring firefighters to approach by sea, with helicopters providing aerial water drops.
In a statement issued Saturday, the Greek fire service disclosed that all 13 individuals arrested were Greek nationals scheduled to appear before prosecutors on Sunday. The statement omitted any mention of the yacht.
The fire’s cause has sparked widespread outrage in Greece, compounded by the nation’s ongoing battle against multiple wildfires amid the year’s initial heatwave.
“It’s outrageous that some individuals would recklessly discharge fireworks into a pine forest,” remarked Giorgos Koukoudakis, Hydra’s mayor, in an interview with Greek broadcaster ERT.
Social media has also erupted in condemnation, with one individual lamenting, “Rich people with more money than sense.”
Since Tuesday, Greece has been on high alert for wildfires, anticipating a challenging summer due to persistent dry conditions, strong winds, and soaring temperatures.
On Friday, a 55-year-old volunteer firefighter died from injuries he sustained battling a fire in the southern region of Ilia on the Peloponnese peninsula.
Summer wildfires are common in Greece and scientists have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, to climate change.
But the country also has a problem with arsonists – at least 79 people were arrested last August over deadly wildfires.
Earlier this year, Greece brought in tougher arsonist laws, with perpetrators facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to €200,000 (£169,000; $213,850).
