On Friday 21st June 2024, around 22:45, a fire was started on the nearby island of Hydra, when fireworks were launched from a private luxury yacht towards the island.  People on the yacht tried to put the fire out without sucess, then called the Fire Brigade and sailed away.  Five local firefighters sailed to the burning 300 acres of Hydra's only pine-forest on a coastguard vessel to try and contain the blaze in the remote area.  With strong winds, the fire spread quickly through the dry trees.  A water-dropping helicopter joined the firefighers at first light, with two Canadair water-bombing aircraft dropping water throughout the following day on the burning pine-forest,  as fires were rekindled overnight due to the dry and windy conditions.  Hydra Port Authorities will seek to take legal action against those responsible.

Thirteen Greek crew members have been arrested from the luxury yacht in connection with starting the forest wildfire on Hydra.  They were arrested when the 54m luxury yacht docked at Vouliagmeni marina after sailing away from the island of Hydra the night before, and will appear before prosecutors on Sunday 23rd June.  There's no confirmed news regarding the seventeen passengers from Kazakhstan, who chartered the luxury super-yacht.  The Persefoni I luxury yacht has been temporarily confiscated as part of the ongoing investigation.  If found guilty, the individuals could face up to twenty years in prison and hefty fines up to €200,000.

Accounts from eyewitnesses on a passing boat directly contradict the claims of the crew on board the luxury yacht that was docked near the pine-forest, intensifying the confusion.  Several witnesses reported hearing loud bangs, around 22:15, before the fire erupted, and emphasised not seeing any fireworks being launched.  They observed a tender from the yacht repeatedly going back and forth to the shore, carrying beach bags.  Later, they spotted a fire extinguisher on the yacht's deck and a strange white stain in the water.  The Persefoni I crew maintain complete innocence and will appear before a prosecutor again on Wednesday 26th June.

In a statement released on Tuesday, police were never involved in the preliminary investigation, or informed about any travel ban imposed by investigative/prosecutorial authorities.  Reports suggested Kazakh oligarchs aboard the privately chartered Persefoni (with ties to the country's corrupt former president and state oil company) docked near the fire's origin, allegedly used fireworks that caused the blaze.  It seems they were neither detained, arrested or questioned and were allowed to leave Greece very soon after.

However, according to other reports, a British citizen, along with two Polish nationals, claimed that they were engrossed in watching a Euro 2024 football match on the yacht while its crew launched fireworks towards Hydra.  Local media have identified Daniyar Abulgazin, one of Kazakhstans wealthiest individuals, as the man who chartered the 54m Persefoni I super-yacht.  The report states that authorities did question the guests, including Abulgazin, his son and his wife, Aidan Suleimenova, who heads a major charity in Kazakhstan, but all were promptly released after denying any involvement in the wildfire.  All the guests immediately returned home to Kazakhstan.

Following the prosecutor meeting on Wednesday 26th June, the yacht Captain and First Officer were detained, while the other eleven crew members were released on bail.  Greek prosecutors have now charged the eight adult Kazakh passengers aboard the yacht with complicity in arson.  The prosecution was prompted by new evidence uncovered during a forensic investigation ordered by the prosecutor at the site of the fire, as firefighters discovered remnants of fireworks where the blaze erupted.  Greek authorities have sought assistance from Kazakhstan, as it now seems the yachts renters left Greece without being questioned by authorities. 

On Monday 1st July, Daniyar Abulgazin expressed surprise at the later allegations, and sadness over the wildfire.  He has insisted that neither he or his guests did anything that could have caused the blaze.  "We strictly followed the fire safety rules established on the yacht.  Neither I or my guests asked the crew of the yacht or any third parties to take any action that could lead to a fire".  He emphasised that before their departure on 22nd June, they had communicated with Greek authorities, who did not raise any issues or claims against them regarding the Hydra wildfire. "We will cooperate with the Greek authorities in their ongoing investigation".

By Tuesday 9th July 2024, a damning internal investigation has revealed a series of blunders and potential misconduct by officials in the aftermath of the devastating fire on Hydra in June, allowing key suspects in the case to escape justice.  While authorities arrested the thirteen crew menbers, the eight Kazakh passengers, considered potential key witnesses and suspects, were allowed to leave the country despite strong evidence suggesting their involvement.

Jurisdictional Confusion - Despite the incident falling under their purview, the Galata Fire Department failed to assume control of the investigation after the yacht had docked at Vouliagmeni marina. 

Ignoring Evidence - Hydra's Port Authority was alerted by a nearby vessel that the luxury yacht was potenially involved in the fire.  However, they took no action to detain the vessel or conduct a search.

Suspects Released - The Fire Brigadier, responsible for all arson crimes, interviewed the yacht passengers the day after the fire.  Despite strong indicators of their involvement, he permitted them to depart on a private flight before informing the prosecutor.

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 wildfire and the escape of potential perpetrators.  All those involved in the fire, including the passengers who fled the country, face felony arson by negligence charges.

On 2nd August 2024, the imprisoned captain of the Persefoni I super-yacht took full responsibility for the wildfire. The captain testified that he procured an array of fifteen fireworks, which he placed and set off on a rock in the sea.  Fourteen of them headed away from the island, but one of them took the opposite direction and fell on one of Hydra's steep slopes, igniting the fire.  He also stated that he acted on his own initiative, without the assistance of any other crew members or any orders from the yacht's guests.