Fire engulfs two tourist boats in Paxoi port; all 22 passengers safe

Fire breaks out in Gaios port

On Thursday 11 June 2026, a fire erupted on a catamaran at the port of Gaios on the Greek island of Paxoi. The flames started in the vessel’s engine while its crew were untying mooring ropes, according to a report in H Kαθημερινή. The fire spread quickly to a nearby wooden day-cruise boat that had arrived earlier from Parga. Dense black smoke covered the port and was visible from a great distance, as shown in multiple video recordings. Both vessels were completely destroyed; one report from NewsIT stated that the wooden boat, described as a sailboat, later sank.

Passengers unharmed as blaze spread

All passengers and crew escaped without injuries. The catamaran was carrying four foreign nationals — two British and two American — who managed to disembark before the fire took hold. The wooden day boat had already completed its daily excursion from Parga to Paxoi and had discharged its 18 tourists ashore. Local residents and Coast Guard personnel promptly moved other nearby boats away from the flames, preventing further damage.

Firefighting response

A total of eight firefighters with three vehicles were deployed to the scene. A floating firefighting vessel of the RAFNAR type was brought in from Corfu, and an additional firefighting boat was dispatched from Igoumenitsa on the orders of the Fire Service Chief. The coordinated effort brought the fire under control and extinguished it, though not before both boats were gutted.

Investigation launched

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. The Port Authority of Paxoi has taken over the preliminary inquiry and will conduct a full investigation once the area is secured. The incident caused considerable disruption at the port but resulted in no casualties.