Thirteen people have been arrested following a wildfire on the Greek island of Hydra that authorities believe was started by fireworks launched from a ferry. The blaze, which broke out on Friday, devastated the island’s only pine forest. Although the fire has now been brought under control, the blaze posed major challenges for firefighters, who had to reach the area by sea and use helicopters to drop water because of a lack of roads leading to the beach.
Hydra, located southwest of Athens in the Saronic Gulf, is popular with foreign tourists and yacht travelers.
Hydra’s fire brigade said on Facebook that the latest fire was “caused by fireworks launched from a boat” and burned the only pine forest on the island, which is in a difficult to access location with no road.
In a statement on Saturday, Greek authorities confirmed the arrest of 13 Greek citizens who are to appear before prosecutors on Sunday. An official said the people were arrested in the Marina area of ​​Athens.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Greece, which is already battling several wildfires amid the first heat of the year. The country is on high alert for wildfires due to dry conditions, strong winds and high temperatures, which are expected to continue into the summer. Officials say 64 forest and bush fires have broken out in Greece in the past 24 hours.
Hydra Mayor Giorgos Koukoudakis expressed anger at the reckless actions that led to the fire.
“We are outraged that some people are irresponsibly throwing fireworks into the pine forest,” Hydra Mayor Giorgos Koukoudakis told Greek broadcaster ERT.
In a related incident, a 55-year-old volunteer firefighter died from injuries sustained while battling a fire in the Ilia region of the Peloponnese peninsula.
Scientists have warned that fossil fuel emissions caused by humans are worsening the duration and intensity of heat waves around the world.
In addition, arson remains a major problem, with 79 people arrested for arson last August. To combat this, Greece last year increased penalties for intentional and negligent arson, including fines of up to 200,000 euros and prison terms of up to 20 years.
