Chalkidiki: Speedboat sank after fire

A speedboat caught fire while anchored in the Develiki sea area of Chalkidiki on Sunday 6 September 2026, and subsequently sank completely. According to the briefing given by the Hellenic Coast Guard, one person was aboard the vessel when the fire broke out. This person was recovered by the authorities and, as announced, is in good health, requiring no further medical care. The intervention of the coast guard authority at the scene was immediate, however the vessel could not be saved from the flames and sank fully into the sea area.

The fire on the speedboat broke out while the vessel was anchored in Develiki, an area of the Chalkidiki coastline that attracts recreational vessels particularly during the summer months. The competent coast guard authority was immediately notified of the incident and rushed to the scene for the recovery of the person aboard and management of the situation. The complete sinking of the vessel followed relatively quickly after the fire broke out, without it being possible to extinguish it before this occurred. The Hellenic Coast Guard did not proceed to further description of the extent or intensity of the fire beyond confirmation of the vessel’s complete sinking. In the area regularly operate recreational and speedboat vessels during the summer, a factor that makes the immediate availability of coast guard patrol vessels significant for rapid intervention in such incidents.

Following a vessel sinking, the competent coast guard authority typically proceeds to a port inquiry to investigate the circumstances of the incident, within the framework of which factors such as the condition of the vessel before the fire and the anchoring conditions are examined. Simultaneously, the issue of possible marine pollution from fuel or other vessel materials is typically raised, which is examined by the competent services depending on the findings at the scene. Also remaining open is the question of the salvage of the sunken vessel, a decision taken in consultation with the owner and coast guard authorities, depending on the depth and position of the wreck on the seabed of the area. Such procedures typically require the services of specialised teams and may take considerable time until completion of the assessment of whether salvage is feasible and necessary.

Until the evening of Sunday 6 September 2026, the cause of the fire that destroyed the speedboat in Develiki had not been announced. No information has been given regarding the length of the vessel or the flag under which it was registered. The Hellenic Coast Guard has not announced whether a salvage of the wreck will ultimately take place, nor whether an incident of marine pollution was detected in the wider area. The identity of the person who was aboard the vessel has not been disclosed. The competent coast guard authority is expected to provide further details as the relevant investigation proceeds.