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Greek Court Delivers Mixed Verdict in Deadly Mati Wildfire Case

In a highly anticipated ruling that has sparked intense reactions, the Three-Member Court of Appeal in Greece has found 10 out of 21 defendants guilty in the case of the deadly Mati wildfire disaster. The verdict, delivered on June 3, has been met with outrage from victims' families and survivors who claim justice has not been fully served.

Among those found guilty are former Civil Protection Secretary-General Ioannis Kapakis, former Fire Brigade Chief Sotiris Terzoudis, former Deputy Chief Vasilis Matthaiopoulos, and several other high-ranking fire service officials. The court also convicted Konstantinos Angelopoulos, the individual from whom the fire originated.

However, the court acquitted 11 defendants, including former Attica Regional Governor Rena Dourou and several local mayors, including Ilias Psinakis (former Mayor of Marathon), Dimitrios-Stergios Kapsalis (former Mayor of Penteli), and Evangelos Bournous (former Mayor of Rafina-Pikermi).

The announcement of the verdict triggered emotional outbursts in the courtroom, with relatives of victims and burn survivors expressing their anger and disappointment. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday, when the prosecutor will present recommendations regarding mitigating circumstances requested by the 10 convicted defendants.

"Holocaust in Peacetime"

Former Parliament Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou, representing some of the victims' families, delivered a scathing critique of the proceedings, calling the Mari disaster "a holocaust in peacetime" with "felony-level responsibilities." She argued that the case should have been tried in a Mixed Jury Court as multiple counts of homicide with possible malice aforethought rather than as a misdemeanor.

"It is shameful that local government officials who had full responsibility for exposing so many people to danger and did nothing to protect them are being acquitted," Konstantopoulou stated. She drew parallels between this case and the recent Tempi railway disaster, suggesting a pattern of inadequate justice for mass casualty incidents in Greece.

Families' Anguish

The emotional toll on victims' families was evident in the courtroom. Eleni Siapkara, who lost her 35-year-old daughter in the fire, leaving behind a 3.5-year-old child, broke down after the verdict. "They're mocking us, they're deceiving us," she cried. "For seven years, they've been tormenting us. We're on psychiatric medication."

Attorney Vasilis Taouxis, representing several victims' families, questioned how a traffic accident resulting in one death would be prosecuted as a felony while a disaster claiming 104 lives was treated as a misdemeanor. "How many national tragedies can this nation endure?" he asked, referencing other recent disasters, including Ilia, Mandra, Evia, and Tempi.

Remembering the 2018 Wildfires

The Mati case verdict comes seven years after one of Greece's deadliest natural disasters. On July 23, 2018, a wildfire began in the coastal settlement of Mari in eastern Attica, rapidly spreading through the densely populated vacation area. Driven by strong winds exceeding 120 km/h, the fire trapped hundreds of residents and tourists.

The disaster claimed 104 lives, with many victims found embracing each other near beaches as they attempted to escape the flames. Some drowned while trying to flee into the sea. Over 1,000 buildings were destroyed, and the environmental damage was extensive.

The tragedy exposed critical failures in Greece's emergency response system. No evacuation order was issued, no emergency traffic management was implemented, and coordination between agencies collapsed. Many victims were trapped in narrow streets or caught in traffic jams while attempting to evacuate.

Photo: Efimerida ton Syntakton

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