Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

Thirteen arrested after fireworks spark forest fire on Greek island

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 23 Jun 2024 11:35
3 Min Read

Hydra's mayor expressed outrage over the incident amid a backdrop of wildfires exacerbated by high winds and scorching weather across the country.

Listen
  • x
  • Cruise ship set off fireworks near a Greek island, setting a forest ablaze on June 22, 2024. (Social Media/X)
    A cruise ship set off fireworks near a Greek island, setting a forest ablaze on June 22, 2024. (Social Media/X)

Greek authorities arrested 13 people on Saturday after fireworks launched from a yacht ignited a forest fire on an island near Athens. This incident comes as the country faces a new season of deadly summer fires.

The mayor of Hydra expressed outrage after the fire broke out late on Friday and vowed to take legal action against those responsible.

Hydra's firefighting team reported on Facebook that the latest blaze was "caused by fireworks launched from a boat and burned the only pine forest on the island, located in a difficult-to-access area with no roads."

Thirteen people accused of involvement in the fireworks have been arrested following a fire service inquiry and will be presented before a prosecutor on Sunday, according to a fire service statement. No details on the suspects have been provided. Greece has toughened its penalties for arson, with perpetrators now facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to 200,000 euros (£169,000).

A difficult summer

Related News

Portugal now facing costs of its largest-ever wildfire

Wildfires scorch 72,000 acres in central California

In addition to calling for legal action against the "irresponsible" individuals behind the fireworks, Hydra’s mayor Giorgos Koukoudakis told the ERT public broadcaster that authorities need to create more anti-fire zones and roads through forests. Meanwhile, another fire broke out on Saturday on the island of Andros, according to emergency services. Four villages were evacuated, and planes and helicopters were deployed to water-bomb the flames.

The civil protection service has called for extreme vigilance, warning that the risk of fires is "very high," particularly in the Attica region, the Peloponnese peninsula, and central Greece.

Greece is bracing for a difficult summer, as authorities caution that strong winds and high temperatures have heightened the danger of wildfires.

After experiencing its warmest winter on record, Greece recorded its first heatwave of the year last week, with temperatures soaring above 44°C (111°F) in some locations.

On Friday, firefighters battled wildfires fueled by three days of fierce winds. These fires have claimed at least one life, as a 55-year-old man collapsed and died while fighting flames near his village.

Last year, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires that resulted in the deaths of 20 people. Scientists warn that human-caused fossil fuel emissions are exacerbating the length and intensity of heatwaves around the world.

According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rising temperatures are prolonging wildfire seasons and expanding the areas affected by these blazes.

  • forest fires
  • Greece
  • Greek Island

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, killing seven Palestinians.

Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, kills seven Palestinians

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters
Politics

Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters

ap
Politics

Cuba's president denounces renewed US meddling in region, backs Petro

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'
Arts and Culture

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks before a lunch with President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Politics

Rubio leading US campaign to oust Maduro through force, sanctions: WSJ

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS