Tourists on a yacht off the coast of the Greek island of Hydra caused a significant forest fire by setting off fireworks, despite repeated warnings against such actions. The incident has sparked widespread anger and condemnation, particularly on social media.
The mayor of Hydra, Giorgos Koukoudakis, expressed his outrage on public television, criticizing the irresponsible behavior of the tourists. He announced that the municipality plans to file a civil suit against those responsible once the preliminary investigation is completed.
The fire, which broke out on June 22, has been a challenging task for firefighters due to the inaccessible location of the forest. Firefighters have been battling the flames from the air and sea, but the fire is not yet under control.
This incident is part of a larger issue in Greece, where 64 forest and bush fires were reported within a 24-hour period. The country has recently experienced its first heatwave of the season, with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of fires.
Greece has toughened its penalties for arson, with fines reaching up to 200,000 euros and prison sentences of up to twenty years. This move comes after several devastating fires in recent years, including those on the island of Rhodes last year, which caused significant chaos.
Civil protection agencies in Greece have called for extreme vigilance, especially in high-risk areas like Attica, the Peloponnese, and central regions of the country. The situation remains precarious with strong winds exacerbating the fire risks.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted that rising temperatures due to human-caused fossil fuel emissions are lengthening the fire season and increasing the area burned. Greece, a Mediterranean country familiar with heatwaves, is bracing for a challenging summer ahead.
- In a recent case, a man was arrested after being caught on video starting a fire east of Athens. This fire took two days to extinguish, illustrating the severity of the situation.
- On the island of Andros, another fire led to the evacuation of four villages and required the mobilization of two water bombers and six helicopters. Reinforcements from Athens were also brought in to help control the blaze.
- A tragic incident occurred in the village of Myrtia in the Peloponnese, where a 55-year-old man died in a forest fire. This underscores the deadly risks associated with the current fire season in Greece.
- The civil protection agency continues to issue warnings and advisories, urging the public to exercise great caution to prevent further fires. The combination of high temperatures and strong winds makes the situation particularly volatile.
