In Athens, Greece, a court reached a significant verdict on Tuesday in connection with a tragic wildfire that claimed over 100 lives in 2018 just outside the city. A former chief of the Fire Service, alongside nine others, was found guilty of mishandling the disaster.
During the proceedings, tensions rose as relatives of the victims protested vehemently. Their anger was primarily fueled by the acquittal of several former civil administrators who were also standing trial.
The devastating fire erupted in the coastal region of Mati, to the east of Athens. Intense winds fanned the flames, leading to a desperate and chaotic evacuation. Many residents perished attempting to escape—some sought refuge by car through dense wooded areas, while others aimed for safety by heading into the sea.
Those convicted, including high-ranking officials from the Fire Service and civil protection agencies, were charged with negligence resulting in the loss of life and failing in their duty to coordinate a secure evacuation. With courtroom protests disrupting proceedings, the sentencing hearing is postponed until Wednesday.
Eleni Siapkara, clad in mourning attire, shared with reporters the painful loss of her 35-year-old daughter, Calliope, who perished in the flames. “My daughter went there for one day and never made it out. No one told her to leave,” she lamented, clutching a white rose. Alongside other affected families, Siapkara mourned outside the courthouse, releasing black balloons in tribute to those lost.
Initially, six defendants faced convictions following last year’s trial, but the verdict was contested by an appeals court prosecutor, prompting this retrial. During the legal proceedings, none of the accused were detained while awaiting the retrial’s outcome.