Holiday island wildfires 'started by yacht fireworks' sees 13 arrested

23 June 2024 , 11:05

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A Greek mayor blamed passengers on a yacht for the fire (Image: Facebook/epoxikoipirosvestes)

Police have arrested 13 people in connection with horror wildfires that investigators believe erupted after fireworks were shot from a yacht.

The only pine forest on the Greek island of Hydra, a major tourist destination and home to just 3,000 people, caught alight on Friday, furious officials said in a social media post. Officers of the Hellenic Fire Service's Arson Crimes Division arrested the more than a dozen people after they were deemed "responsible for causing a fire in a forest area".

While the service didn't mention the yacht or fireworks in its statement, Hydra's mayor said the island is "indignant" while discussing the incident with local media. Giorgos Koukoudakis told Greek broadcaster ERT: "We are indignant that some people so irresponsibly throw fireworks into a pine forest."

Hydra is a stunning Greek tourist hotspot (Getty Images)

The fire service said those arrested by special investigators would be brought before public prosecutors the Piraeus Criminal Prosecutor on Saturday morning. The suspected cause has left people incensed, with some taking to social media to express their fury.

One person posted on X calling the people arrested in connection with the blaze "rich people with more money than brains". Another user responding in a similar line added: "Privileged posh w****rs thinking they can do whatever they want, no doubt."

Queen honoured in London New Year's fireworks before turning into King Charles

Locals are "indignant", Hydra's mayor has said (Getty Images)

Another user questioned why fireworks would be legal to use in Greece during the summer, writing: "How are fireworks in the summer even legal???! Arrrghh!" The incident took place while parts of the Mediterranean nation were under a Category 5 heat warning, with forest fire season now well underway.

Forest fires are common in Greece during the summer months, with firefighters forced to battle intense flames for much of the season, which is also the busiest for tourists. The service reported approximately 70 active fires on Friday, requiring a response from hundreds of personnel over the weekend.

Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to beat back the flames (Getty Images)

Fires were fanned by gale-force winds on two islands between Saturday and Sunday, with one in Andros, in the Aegean, demanding action from 30 firefighters. The blaze became so fierce that the service had to employ two aircraft and five helicopters to pour water over the towering flames, ensuring they were kept away from tourist resorts. Nevertheless, four communities were evacuated as emergency services took vital precautions.

Liam Doyle