Symbol supply, Fb/ epoxikoipirosvestesImage caption, Firefighters shared this photograph, however didn’t verify that it’s the luxurious yacht allegedly concerned within the incidentArticle informationAuthor, Tiffany Wertheimer & Danny AeberhardRole, BBC News22 June 2024Updated 1 hour agoThirteen folks had been arrested following a wooded area hearth at the Greek island of Hydra, that government allege was once sparked by way of fireworks introduced from a superyacht.Friday’s blaze burnt thru 300 acres of the one pine wooded area at the famend vacationer island, which lies south of Athens, Greece’s Local weather Disaster Minister Vassilis Kikilias mentioned.The flames have been introduced underneath regulate, however with problem. As there are not any roads to the seaside, firefighters needed to get right of entry to it by way of sea, whilst helicopters dropped water from the air.Greek media reported that every one the ones arrested are staff contributors of the superyacht, Persephoni. It’s to be had for summer time constitution from €249,000 every week (£211,200; $269,300), in line with a number of luxurious yacht sellers on-line. The general public prosecutor has requested for the vessel to be confiscated, Mr Kikilias was once quoted as announcing.A number of native media shops, bringing up court docket paperwork, reported that the guests at the yacht have been 17 Kazakhstan nationals who’ve since left Greece, then again the BBC has been not able to independently examine this.On Sunday morning, the staff have been filmed strolling into the Piraeus Prosecutor’s Workplace, dressed in matching paintings uniforms and masking their faces with shades, mask and hats.There’s rivalry between Greece’s coast guard, and the hearth division. Native media is reporting that whilst hearth officers are depending at the commentary of a captain of a close-by vessel, who allegedly noticed flares or fireworks being introduced from Persephoni – the coast guard says there is not any proof of this.Symbol supply, Getty ImagesImage caption, Amid a heatwave, Greek firefighters are combating a number of blazes around the nation, together with this one in Kitsi, south of AthensThe alleged reason behind the hearth has induced outrage in Greece, which is already combating a number of wildfires and is within the grip of its first heatwave of the 12 months.”We’re angry that some folks so irresponsibly throw fireworks right into a pine wooded area,” Hydra’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, instructed Greek broadcaster ERT on Saturday.There has additionally been condemnation on social media: “Wealthy folks with more cash than brains,” wrote one particular person.Greece has been on prime alert for wildfires since Tuesday, and government are bracing for a hard summer time as dry prerequisites, robust winds and prime temperatures are set to proceed.On Friday, a 55-year-old volunteer firefighter died from accidents he sustained combating a fireplace within the southern area of Ilia at the Peloponnese peninsula.Summer season wildfires are commonplace in Greece and scientists have related the expanding frequency and depth of maximum climate occasions, together with heatwaves, to local weather alternate.However the nation additionally has an issue with arsonists – no less than 79 folks have been arrested ultimate August over fatal wildfires.Previous this 12 months, Greece introduced in more difficult arsonist rules, with perpetrators dealing with as much as twenty years in jail and fines of as much as €200,000.
