Thirteen people were arrested in Greece after, on the night of Friday, June 21, they set off fireworks from a yacht and caused a forest fire on the island of Hydra in the Aegean Sea.
According to what Hydra firefighters reported on social media, the fire consumed the only pine forest on the small island, which has an area of 64 square kilometers and is located southwest of Athens. The fire broke out in an area that was difficult to reach, as there were no roads, but has now been brought under control.
The use of pyrotechnic devices by yacht passengers has sparked a wave of discontent in Greece, which has already battled dozens of forest fires in the first week of summer. Also on Friday, a 55-year-old volunteer firefighter died while fighting fires on the Peloponnese peninsula, where some villages had to be evacuated.
“Rich people with more money than brains are destroying our homes,” said one of the comments on the post published by Haidra firefighters on the social network Facebook. “Fireworks should be banned,” another user responds.
Speaking to Greek broadcaster ERT, Hydra’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, admitted that the case had been brought to justice and that he staged the rebellion because “some people were so irresponsible as to set off fireworks into the pine forest.”
On Saturday, June 22, the Greek authorities announced the arrest of 13 citizens, without providing details about their identities. At the beginning of the year, Athens tightened penalties for arsonists, who could now face up to 20 years in prison and fines of a maximum of 200,000 euros.
The Greek Civil Protection issued a warning to residents due to the “very high risk” of forest fires, fueled by strong winds and high temperatures, especially in Attica (where Athens is located), on the Peloponnese peninsula and in the central region of Greece. nation. A year ago, A Heat wave Two weeks ago, a series of fires broke out, destroying more than 800 square kilometers and killing 20 people, including two children.
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”
