Officials Botched Hydra Fire Investigation, Allowing Suspects to Flee

Athens, Greece - A damning internal investigation has revealed a series of blunders and potential misconduct by officials in the aftermath of the devastating Hydra fire in June, allowing key suspects in the case to escape justice.

The fire, which ravaged the only pine forest on the Saronic island, was allegedly sparked by fireworks ignited from a luxury yacht chartered by a Kazakh businessman. While authorities arrested the 13 crew members, the eight Kazakh passengers, considered potential key witnesses and suspects, were allowed to leave the country despite strong evidence suggesting their involvement.

A Litany of Errors

The investigation, conducted by the internal affairs directorate, uncovered multiple failures in the handling of the case:

• Jurisdictional Confusion: Despite the incident falling under their purview, the Galata fire department failed to assume control of the investigation.
• Ignoring Evidence: Hydra’s port authority was alerted by a nearby vessel that the yacht was potentially involved in the fire. However, they took no action to detain the vessel or conduct a search.
• Suspects Released: The fire brigadier, responsible for arson crimes, interviewed the 10 Kazakh passengers the day after the fire. Despite strong indicators of their involvement, he permitted them to depart the country on a private flight before informing the prosecutor.

Potential Charges Loom

The report suggests potential charges of abuse of power and dereliction of duty against the fire brigadier and officials from the Hydra port authority. The investigation raises serious questions about the competence and potential misconduct of those entrusted to uphold the law, further fueling public outrage over the devastating fire and the escape of potential perpetrators. All those involved in the fire, including the passengers who fled, face felony arson by negligence charges.