The Athens court ruled that the state must pay 300,000 euros in compensation for emotional distress to the relatives of a 77-year-old woman who died in the forest fires in eastern Attica in Mati on July 23, 2018.
Five relatives of the deceased, who died after leaving her home in the village of Neos Voutzas, have filed a lawsuit against the Greek state, the regional government of Attica and the municipality of Rafina Pikermi, seeking compensation.
The Administrative Court of First Instance of Athens ruled that the fire department was unable to adequately assess the danger posed at the scene of the fire. The court also ruled that the authorities were at fault for did not issue an order to evacuate people from the area.
More than 100 people, elderly and young men, women and children, died in a disaster in MatiDozens were severely burned. Survivors are now reminiscing in the courtroom about the horror they experienced as a lawsuit finally began last month against government officials and high-ranking fire and police officials.