Mati Wildfire

On 23 July 2018, a fast-moving wildfire swept through Mati, a seaside resort town in eastern Attica, about 30 kilometers from Athens, becoming the deadliest wildfire in modern Greek history. Driven by extremely strong winds, the fire spread from nearby forests into the town with terrifying speed, leaving residents and visitors little time to escape. Mati had narrow streets, dense pine trees and many homes built without proper planning, which made escape difficult. Many people were trapped in their cars in traffic jams or died trying to reach the sea. Others ran into the water, where some drowned while waiting to be rescued by boats. In one of the most tragic scenes, the bodies of 26 people, including children, were found together near a cliff, just short of the sea. In total, 104 people died, and many others were injured. The disaster caused national mourning and anger at the authorities over the lack of evacuation, emergency warnings and planning. Officials were later prosecuted over the handling of the disaster, and it led to major reforms of Greece's civil protection system.