Greek Court Convicts Officials Over 2018 Wildfire, Imposes Fines Instead of Jail Time

Five former firefighting and disaster response officials were convicted for their roles in Greece's deadliest wildfire, but were allowed to pay fines, sparking outrage among survivors.

A Greek court convicted five former officials for the 2018 wildfire in Mati, which resulted in over 100 deaths.
Sentences ranged from 15 to 111 years, but were capped at five years due to concurrent serving, with the option to pay fines instead.
Survivors and families expressed deep disappointment, citing a lack of justice as officials were fined instead of serving longer jail terms.
More than 1,500 homes and 300 cars were destroyed in the fire, highlighting the scale of the disaster.
The court's decision has raised questions about accountability and the effectiveness of disaster response in Greece.

Voice of America (VOA News)