Forest fire on Hydra: Fireworks from a mega yacht are said to have started the fire

Passengers on a motor yacht set off fireworks off the coast of the island of Hydra on Saturday night, setting fire to the island's only forest. The fireworks were intended to amuse the passengers on board the yacht "Persefoni". The mayor is now planning to take legal action against those responsible.

13 people who were on board the yacht were arrested on Saturday as suspected arsonists. They are said to have tried to extinguish the flames themselves before alerting the fire brigade. Nevertheless, they then made off with "Persefoni" and docked in the coastal suburb of Vouliagmeni in the Greek capital Athens. The yacht was detained, searched and the passengers arrested. As the SZ reports, the emergency services were able to get the fire under control late in the evening.

High risk of forest fires in Greece - high penalties for arson

The risk of forest fires remains high: 64 forest and bush fires have broken out in the last 24 hours alone. Most of them have been brought under control by the emergency services. The authorities regularly warn people not to handle fire or sparks or to barbecue outdoors. Small sparks could be enough to cause a fire. The residents and authorities are all the more outraged by the forest fire.

Read also:

• Croatia: Major fire destroys 22 yachts in Medulin harbour

The penalties for deliberate or negligent arson were increased in Greece last year. In addition to fines in the five-figure range, prison sentences of up to ten years can now be imposed even for negligent arson. The country also has a problem with arsonists, but catching the perpetrators would often prove difficult.