June 23. () –
Greek authorities have arrested 13 crew members of a yacht on the presumption that they started a fire on the island of Hydra after launching fireworks from the boat, in an incident that occurs while the country’s firefighters are trying to control dozens of open fires during the last days.
The embers from the fireworks ended up setting the only pine forest on the island on fire. The suspects attempted to put out the fire themselves but ended up calling firefighters before leaving the area. The flames devastated 120 hectares.
Navigators from nearby ships ended up reporting what happened to the authorities, amid the indignation of the Greek Minister of Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilia. “We ended up using six aerial vehicles and two groups of firefighters to deal with the fire; forces that were needed on other fronts,” he lamented in statements to Greek television OPEN TV.
The mayor of Hydra, Giorgos Koukoudakis, has also protested against this “irresponsibility” of “throwing fireworks at a pine forest.” “We are at the height of the tourist season and it would be advisable for everyone to be aware of what they are doing,” he lamented.
Now, the crew of the ship ‘Persephone’ will appear before a court in Piraeus and could be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison if they are found guilty of causing the fire. The yacht, which had been rented by 17 Kazakhs for a private party, has been confiscated.
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