The judicial process surrounding one of Greece’s deadliest wildfires nears its conclusion as the appellate court prosecutor delivers her statement today on the guilt or innocence of the 21 defendants.
The 2018 Mati fire, which ignited in Penteli and rapidly spread through Eastern Attica, resulted in 104 deaths and left dozens injured, marking it as the second deadliest wildfire in the world.
Seeking Accountability
The fire, which broke out on July 23, 2018, turned into a catastrophic blaze that overwhelmed emergency responders and residents alike. As the flames engulfed homes and roads, many victims perished in the inferno, while others drowned attempting to escape by sea. The trial has centred on whether authorities took appropriate preventive and operational measures or if negligence contributed to the scale of the disaster.
The first-instance court previously convicted only six of the 21 defendants, imposing sentences of up to five years, which were later converted into fines. The decision led to widespread criticism and a full appeal of the ruling. Now, as the appellate trial progresses, the prosecutor is set to present her assessment of the evidence and determine whether the initial verdict failed to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Victims’ Families Demand Justice
Relatives of the victims have issued a public appeal, urging citizens to attend today’s hearing in a show of solidarity. Their statement underscores the trial’s significance, stating:
“On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Athens Court of Appeal, the prosecutor will present her stance on the guilt of the 21 defendants for the crime of July 23, 2018. This is our last opportunity for justice within the country’s courts, even if an appeal to the Supreme Court follows. We call on all friends, victims, and citizens with empathy and conscience to stand with us before justice.”
The hearing takes place in Room D80C, 2nd floor of the Court of Appeal Building on Loukareos Street at 9:00 AM.
Previous Rulings and Acquittals
In the first trial, the court convicted six individuals, including high-ranking fire officials and a local resident whose property was identified as the fire’s origin. They were found guilty of manslaughter and bodily injury by negligence:
- Sotiris Terzoudis, then Chief of the Fire Brigade
- Vassilis Mattheopoulos, then Deputy Chief
- Ioannis Fostieris, then Head of ESKE (National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management)
- Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, then Commander of Athens Fire Services
- Charalambos Chionis, then Commander of Eastern Attica Fire Services
- Konstantinos Angelopoulos, resident from whose yard the fire started
However, the court granted mitigating circumstances to four of the convicted individuals, while two, including the resident, received no such leniency. The remaining 15 defendants, including former high-ranking officials such as the then-Regional Governor of Attica Rena Dourou and multiple municipal authorities, were acquitted despite initial prosecution arguments to the contrary.
A Pivotal Moment
As the trial reaches its final stages, public scrutiny remains high, with victims’ families and Greek society at large awaiting a ruling that could redefine accountability for one of the nation’s worst disasters. The prosecutor’s statement today is expected to be a decisive moment in the pursuit of justice for the lives lost in Mati.