Greek police have arrested 13 people in connection with a forest fire on the Greek island of Idra, which authorities say was caused by fireworks launched from a yacht.
a BBC He writes that Friday's fire destroyed the only pine forest on the popular tourist island south of Athens.
The authorities were unable to control the fire to some extent except with great difficulty. Since there was no land route to the beach, firefighters had to approach by sea, while helicopters dropped water from the air.
The Greek Fire Department wrote this in a statement on Saturday
All 13 people detained are Greek citizens and must appear before the Public Prosecutor's Office on Sunday.
The cause of the fire sparked anger in Greece, because the country is already battling several forest fires due to high temperatures.
We are angry that some people are irresponsibly setting off fireworks into the pine forest
Giorgos Kokoudakis, mayor of Idra, told Greek channel ERT.
Summer wildfires are common
Greece has been on high alert in anticipation of forest fires since Tuesday, as authorities prepare for a difficult summer with continued drought, strong winds and high temperatures. A 55-year-old volunteer firefighter died on Friday from injuries sustained while extinguishing a fire in the Ilia region of the southern Peloponnese.
Summer wildfires are common in Greece, where extreme weather events, including heatwaves, have become more frequent and intense, which scientists say is due to climate change.
However, authorities in the country are also facing problems with arsonists, with at least 79 people arrested over deadly forest fires last August.
At the beginning of the year, Greece tightened the laws regarding arsonists, according to which the perpetrators of such crimes could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of 200 thousand euros.
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