Forest Fire on Hydra Island: Fireworks from Tourist Yacht Spark Outrage
A forest fire erupted on the Greek island of Hydra, ignited by fireworks set off from a tourist yacht on Friday evening. The blaze consumed the island's only pine forest, located in a difficult-to-access area, requiring firefighters to battle the flames from the sea and air. Thirteen crew members of the yacht have been arrested as suspected arsonists and are set to appear in court on Wednesday.
Legal Actions and Public Reaction
The Greek authorities have intensified their crackdown on arson, with penalties of up to twenty years in prison and fines reaching €200,000. The mayor of Hydra, Giorgos Koukoudakis, expressed his outrage and confirmed that the municipality would file a civil suit against those responsible for the fire. The incident has sparked significant anger on social media, with many condemning the reckless behavior of the yacht's crew. This fire adds to the numerous blazes that have broken out in Greece within the last 24 hours, exacerbated by the country's first heatwave of the season, with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius in some areas.
- Despite repeated warnings from civil protection officials, the risk of forest fires remains very high in several regions of Greece, including the Attica region and the Peloponnese peninsula. The situation is further complicated by strong winds, which firefighters fear could reignite the flames.
- The yacht's passengers, who are originally from Kazakhstan, are not being prosecuted. The crew members, however, have denied the accusations during their hearings. The fire service has managed to bring most of the fires under control, but the threat remains due to the ongoing extreme weather conditions.
