The fire was quickly brought under control and no longer threatens the Hydra forest.
The municipality files a complaint
The island’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, said he was “outraged that some people are throwing fireworks in such an irresponsible way in a pine forest” on public television channel ERT. He added that “the municipality would file a civil suit against those responsible for the fire as soon as the preliminary investigation was completed.”
Greece recently toughened penalties for arson. The perpetrators of the fires can now be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 euros.
On the Skai television channel, Mr. Koukoudakis also called on the authorities to act, highlighting the fact that “the island does not have fire zones or forest roads” allowing firefighters to access certain areas. areas.
“Very high” fire risk
On Saturday, civil protection called for the greatest vigilance while the risk of fire “remains very high” particularly in the region of Attica, which surrounds the Greek capital, in the Peloponnese (south) and in the center of country.
A 55-year-old man from the village of Myrtia in the Peloponnese died Friday in a forest fire in Greece where 45 new fires fanned by violent winds had been recorded, according to firefighters.
Since Wednesday, authorities have continued to warn of the “very high risk” of forest fire due to strong winds and high temperatures which in some regions reached 40 degrees Celsius.
First heatwave at 44°C
No stranger to heat waves, Greece has been preparing for weeks for a particularly difficult summer in terms of heatwaves and forest fires after having suffered the hottest winter in its history.
The Mediterranean country went through its first heatwave last week with temperatures locally reaching more than 44°C. It had already experienced devastating fires causing more than 20 deaths and a two-week heatwave of more than 40°C, unprecedented in its duration, in 2023.
