Authorities in Greece have arrested 13 individuals who launched fireworks from a yacht, causing a forest fire on an island near Athens. According to several Greek media outlets, the fire was started by Kazakhstan nationals.
The culprits now face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 euros, as reported by the Guardian.
No details about the suspects have been officially released. However, Greek media reports that the individuals who set off the fireworks, resulting in part of the island catching fire, were tourists from Kazakhstan.
The publication makeleio.gr states that a "bunch of old folks from Kazakhstan" decided to do whatever they pleased in Greece and nearly set Hydra (an island) on fire with fireworks.
Another media outlet, skai.gr, mentions that the tourists from Kazakhstan were only involved in renting the yacht and were subsequently released.
According to pronews.gr, once the tourists caused the fire, they attempted to extinguish it themselves. When their efforts failed, they simply called the fire department and sailed away.
- The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan was contacted for official information.
- Additionally, on June 22, a tourist from Kazakhstan was detained for vandalism in Greece. He was caught carving the letters ALI into the light-colored plaster of the House of the Ceii in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
