Island workforce reportedly sparked woodland blaze on Hydra

Island workforce reportedly sparked woodland blaze on Hydra

A luxury yacht filled with Kazakhstan tourists is cautiously sailing beside the Greek island of Hydra when the crew sets off fireworks. This action unwittingly leads to a blaze in the island's solitary pine forest. Consequently, a handful of crew members find themselves in some hot water.

Outrage erupted: "Lock 'em up!" and "Arson should receive swifter punishment!", echoed voices in Greek social media. Previously, the island's unique pine forest had succumbed to flames, with speculations abounding that the yacht's crew had lit fireworks or fired projectiles for their guests, thereby igniting the parched greenery. Thirteen crew members were temporarily detained.

The culprits had made attempts to douse the flames on Friday evening, only to surrendering to the fire department and slipping away, as reported by Greek media. Witnesses on passing boats had observed the scene and reported it to the authorities.

When the nearly 55-meter yacht named "Persefoni" eventually anchored at the Athenian coastal suburb of Vouliagmeni on Saturday afternoon, thirteen crew members were taken into custody, and the boat was confiscated for search. According to news reports, there were seventeen tourists from Kazakhstan on board.

Island's Mayor Threatens Legal Action

The indignation mounts even higher as Greece grapples with numerous forest and bush fires this week due to strong winds. Authorities consistently caution against handling fire, sparks, open grilling, or even outdoor welding or metal bending. The sight of an image in Greek media revealing the luxury yacht floating in the dark sea before the blazing forest thus adds fuel to the fire.

The island's mayor, Georgios Koukoudakis, voiced his outrage about the incident during a televised interview. With or without the intervention of central authorities, the island community itself intends to file a complaint against the wrongdoers, he declared. Meanwhile, the fire department managed to subdue the flames late on Saturday evening with the aid of helicopters.

Greece Toughens up Arson Laws

Greece toughened its arson legislation last year, imposing hefty fines for both intentional and negligent arson, as well as prison sentences of up to ten years for negligent arson.

However, capturing the perpetrators is a challenging task, and unfavorable outcomes are common. Yet, luckily, the investigators found success with a fire that erupted east of Athens the previous Wednesday: Security cameras on neighboring plots recorded a man lighting the blaze and then fleeing.

The forest fire risk persisted in several regions of Central Greece over the weekend, according to the Greek Civil Defense. Most fires, however, were eventually brought under control.

Read also:

1. The forest fire on Hydra sparked international concerns, with many countries expressing their sympathies to Greece and offering assistance to combat the blaze.
2. Amidst the ongoing forest fires in Greece, Athens issued a warning to all yacht owners to be extra vigilant and avoid activities that could spark fires in the forest.
3. Following the incident in Hydra, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) discussed the importance of responsible yachting and the impact of fireworks on marine environments and forest fires.

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