Fireworks launched from a yacht set off a new wildfire on an island near Athens as the country confronts a new season of deadly summer fires, authorities said.
The mayor of the island of Hydra expressed “outrage” after the fire was started late Friday and vowed legal action against those responsible.
Dozens of wildfires this week have left at least one dead already.
The latest blaze was “caused by fireworks launched from a boat and burned the only pine forest on the island in a place that is difficult to access and has no road,” Hydra’s firefighting team said on Facebook.
Another fire raged Saturday on the island of Andros, emergency services said. Four villages were evacuated and planes and helicopters were brought in to water bomb the flames.
Greece has toughened penalties for arson, with perpetrators now facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 euros ($214,000).
On top of calling for legal action against…
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