The incident began with the The vessel ran aground on a rocky shore in the Diakofto area. The rescue operation for the man on board had been successfully completed, but the boat remained stranded on the rocks, having already sustained serious damage.
Over the next few days, the situation worsened. Four days after running aground, the boat remained on the rocky shore and was eventually broken apart by the waves.
Intervention by the Local Property Authority
Today, Sunday, August 16, the chairman of the Committee on Local Property of Kythira and Antikythira, Evangelos Venardos, announced that the Commission is taking immediate legal action.
According to the announcement, the actions do not concern only the pollution caused, but also any acts or omissions on the part of the competent and responsible authorities, while there is mention of a lawsuit and support for the charges in the case file which, according to the Commission, is being compiled.
The announcement states, verbatim:
**«The Kythira and Antikythira Local Property Commission hereby announces, regarding the grounding of a tourist boat at Diakofti, Kythira, that it is immediately taking all legal actions regarding the acts and omissions of those responsible and in charge, by filing a lawsuit and supporting the charges in the case file being compiled regarding the pollution of the coastline, as well as the degradation of the environment and the disruption of the ecological balance.
With our support, the concessionaires of the affected salt flats and beaches will also take similar actions.
Kythira, August 16, 2026
The President
»Evangelos Venardos"**
Of particular importance is the Commission's reference to concessionaires of salt flats and beaches who are alleged to have suffered damages, who, according to Mr. Venardo, are also planning to take similar steps with the support of the Local Property Authority.
The case is therefore now also entering legal level, with key questions focusing on the extent of the environmental impact, the actions taken following the grounding, and whether there were any omissions that contributed to the situation unfolding as it did.
These issues are expected to be investigated by the competent authorities, while, as of now, the positions of the individuals or entities generally referred to in the Domestic Property Agency’s announcement as «responsible and competent» have not been made public.
