Yacht captain, officer jailed ahead of arson trial over island fire

Greek judicial authorities have jailed the captain and first officer of a yacht ahead of a trial on charges of arson over a forest fire on the island of Hydra believed to have been sparked by fireworks, legal sources said Thursday.

The two men and the entire crew of the yacht have denied any wrongdoing. Eleven other crew members were freed on bail and with restrictions.

Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country but they have become more frequent and devastating due to hotter, drier and windier conditions, which scientists link to climate change. Greece has, in recent years, beefed up penalties for arson.

The fire, believed to have been triggered by fireworks, broke out on Friday night and devoured nearly 300,000 square metres of the island’s pine forest before fire fighters doused the flames early on Saturday.

The 13 Greek crew members of the yacht, which was moored 350 metres (383 yards) from the shore when the fire erupted, were arrested on Sunday at a marina near Athens and charged with starting the blaze.

All of them reiterated their denial of the charges before an investigating magistrate at the court of Piraeus on Wednesday.

The yacht operator, Salaminia Yachting Limited, said it “retains absolute confidence in the integrity and sincerity of the crew members”, who deny involvement in the incident, according to a statement cited by the Athens News Agency.

A legal source said earlier there was not enough evidence to link the crew with the case and that the captain was the first person to alert authorities about the fire, while other yachts were also in the wider area. The foreign passengers of the yacht have left the country.

Witnesses testified that they saw smoke and flames after hearing 15 to 20 loud sounds, similar to firework explosions, at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

A rubber boat sailed towards the yacht as the fire rapidly spread, said one witness, who later saw a fire extinguisher on the yacht’s stern. 

[Reuters]