Greek Court Sentences Former Officials Over 2020 Flood Mismanagement in Central Greece

A Greek court on Thursday sentenced former regional governor Costas Agorastos and three other ex-officials to a 15-month suspended prison term for their handling of the devastating floods caused by Cyclone Ianos in 2020.

The cyclone swept through central Greece, killing three people and leaving cities and highways in Thessaly under water, with vast areas of agricultural land transformed into mud lakes, particularly near Karditsa and Farsala.

The court found Agorastos, a former deputy governor, and two former technical project directors guilty of failing to take actions that might have mitigated the flooding. They denied any wrongdoing, and Agorastos announced plans to appeal, stating that the flood was a rare "once-in-1,000-years" event that could not have been prevented.

While the court acquitted the defendants of involuntary manslaughter charges related to the deaths, families of the victims expressed disappointment. "The deaths were not just accidents, but a failure of the state mechanism," said Vassiliki Soufla, a lawyer representing one of the victims.

Greece has faced increasing challenges from extreme weather events, with last year's Storm Daniel marking the second major flood in Thessaly in just three years. That disaster, which claimed 16 lives and caused massive destruction, has led to a separate investigation into possible negligence or intentional actions that worsened its impact.

(Source: Reuters)