Greek Authorities Extend Detention of Officers Linked to Wildfire

Greek authorities have decided to prolong the detention of two officers who are suspected of causing a wildfire on the picturesque island of Hydra by igniting fireworks from a luxury yacht last Friday. The incident led to the destruction of approximately 3,000 acres of pine forest on the popular tourist destination, located about 40 nautical miles south of Athens.

Detention Extension and Crew Release

The two officers involved in the case will remain in custody, while the other 11 crew members of the yacht have been released on bail. The crew members are prohibited from leaving the country and must report monthly to their local police station. Bail amounts ranged from €10,000 for seven crew members to €20,000 for the remaining four. The passengers, reported to be a group of Kazakhstan nationals including oligarchs, were allowed to depart from Greece.

Firefighting Efforts and Damage

To combat the wildfire, six aircraft and two firefighting teams were dispatched to the Bisti area on Hydra. This situation caused authorities to reallocate resources from other fire-fighting operations elsewhere in Greece. The wildfire caused significant environmental damage on the island known for its natural beauty and tourism.

Investigation Details

The authorities claimed to have identified the individuals responsible for the wildfire by analyzing Hydra Port Authority traffic data and Coast Guard patrol reports. Additionally, witnesses from another boat in the vicinity reported the incident, alleging that fireworks were set off from a yacht in the same area where the fire originated.

The yacht’s captain denied the allegations, stating that no fireworks were discharged from the vessel. He further mentioned that all emergency flares on the yacht were accounted for during an inspection by the Coast Guard. The captain asserted that he was the one who alerted the Hydra Fire Department about the fire outbreak.