Devendra Kumar
The Athens court has delivered severe sentences to five former senior firefighting and disaster response officials accused of criminal negligence resulting in injury and loss of life in the 2018 Mati wildfire. The devastating fire swept through the seaside town, east of Athens, killing over 100 people, with residents and tourists trapped in their cars as they tried to escape.
Among those convicted were a former fire chief, who were accused of negligence that led to the tragedy. The presiding judge handed down sentences ranging from 15 to 111 years in prison, but allowed the sentences to be served concurrently, capping the actual jail time at just five years. Additionally, the convicted officials were permitted to pay fines instead of serving their sentences, a decision that has been widely condemned as a slap on the wrist for the officials’ egregious negligence.
The light sentencing has sparked outrage and frustration among those affected by the disaster, who feel that justice has not been served. Irini Maroupa, a lawyer representing the victims, expressed the families’ disappointment and sense of injustice, stating that the victims of the fire and those injured will never find peace. The conviction of the five officials is a rare instance of accountability in a country where corruption and lack of transparency are widespread. The verdict is a small step towards justice for the victims of the Mati wildfire, but it is clear that many questions remain unanswered and that the true extent of the government’s responsibility for the disaster remains unclear.
A sixth defendant, the owner of the property where the fire started, was also found guilty of negligence and received a three-year sentence, but was allowed to pay a fine and did not have to serve time in prison. Fifteen other firefighting officials, police, civil protection, and local government officials were cleared of all charges, prompting further outrage among victims’ families, who feel that those responsible for the tragedy were not held accountable.
The trial has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in Greece’s disaster response and firefighting agencies. The conviction of the five officials is a reminder that those responsible for devastating fires must be held accountable, and that the consequences of their actions must be severe and fair. The outcome of the trial is a stark reminder that justice is rarely swift or severe, and that the truth behind the tragedy may never fully be known.