Thirteen arrested after fireworks spark forest fire on Greek island
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Hydra's mayor expressed outrage over the incident amid a backdrop of wildfires exacerbated by high winds and scorching weather across the country.
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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
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.
