Emotional Outburst as Verdict Delivered in Mati Wildfire Trial

13:27 5/6/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Tears and applause erupted in an Athens courtroom as the long-awaited verdict was delivered in the trial over the deadly 2018 Mati wildfire, which claimed 104 lives in one of Greece's worst natural disasters.

Relatives of the victims wept openly as police placed handcuffs on the four defendants who will serve prison sentences.

"Just one apology, please—just one!" one mother cried out toward the convicted officials.

Others in the courtroom shouted, "May you rot in jail!"

The court concluded the high-profile retrial that sought accountability for the catastrophe that devastated the seaside town. 

As the verdict was read, applause broke out in support of Dimitris Liotsios, the fire expert who had been appointed by the state to investigate the conditions under which the fire escalated. 

"Let’s hear it for Mr. Liotsios—he told the truth," family members yelled, directing their remarks at former top officials of the Fire Service seated in the dock.

The prosecutor addressed the families after the sentencing, saying, "I wish I could do more." 

A grieving relative responded solemnly, "But the dead remain dead."

The court's ruling marks a rare instance of high-level convictions in the aftermath of a natural disaster in Greece. 

The case, which has become emblematic of official negligence and systemic failure, continues to stir public debate about crisis response, accountability, and justice.

The fire that tore through Mati on July 23, 2018, left behind a trail of devastation.

Victims were trapped in their homes and vehicles, with many perishing just meters from the shoreline. 

The blaze spread rapidly due to high winds, poor coordination among emergency services, and a critical lack of evacuation orders. Among those convicted are senior officials from the Fire Service. 

The verdict is seen by families as a partial vindication in their years-long struggle for justice.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

Διαβάστε ολόκληρο το άρθρο >>
Keywords
due to, athens, prison, mother, town, support, fire, expert, top, rare, official, public, spread, due, iefimerida, iefimerida, public, athens, due, due to, fire, long, mother, official, rare, prison, support, town, top
Τυχαία Θέματα
σοαα, χρωμιο, loch ness, tdf
iNews > Ειδήσεις > iEfimerida
Emotional Outburst, Verdict Delivered,Mati Wildfire Trial