Fireworks from wildfire on yacht on Greek island, 13 arrested

Thirteen people have been arrested following a forest fire on the Greek island of Hydra, which authorities say was started by fireworks launched from a yacht. The fire, which broke out on Friday, devastated the island's only pine forest. Although now under control, the fire presented significant challenges for firefighters who had to access the area by sea and use helicopters to drop water due to a lack of roads leading to the beach.

Hydra, southwest of Athens on the Saronic Gulf, is popular with foreign visitors and those traveling on yachts.

The latest fire was “caused by a firework launched from a boat and burned the only pine forest on the island in a location that is difficult to access and has no roads,” Hydra firefighters said on Facebook .

In a statement released on Saturday, Greek authorities confirmed the arrest of 13 Greek citizens who are due to appear before the prosecutor on Sunday. An official said the people were arrested at a marina in the Athens area.

The incident sparked widespread outrage in Greece, which is already battling multiple wildfires amid its first heatwave of the year. The country is on high alert for wildfires due to drought, strong winds and high temperatures, which are expected to persist throughout the summer. According to authorities, 64 forest and brush fires broke out in Greece in the last 24 hours.

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