logo
Former top Greek fire officials convicted over deadly blaze

Former top Greek fire officials convicted over deadly blaze

Irish Examiner03-06-2025
A court in Athens has convicted a former fire service chief and nine others for their roles in managing a 2018 wildfire that killed more than 100 people outside the Greek capital.
The hearing was disrupted by protests from victims' relatives after several former civil administrators on trial were acquitted.
The fire, which broke out in the seaside area of Mati, east of Athens, spread rapidly due to strong winds.
Many residents died in a chaotic attempt to escape — either by car through a dense forest or fleeing into the sea.
Senior officials from the fire service and civil protection agencies were found guilty of negligence resulting in loss of life and breach of duty for failing to safely direct the evacuation.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Wednesday due to the delay caused by the courtroom protests.
'My daughter went there for one day and never made it out. No one told her to leave,' Eleni Siapkara, dressed in black and holding a white rose, told reporters.
'They destroyed our family.'
Her 35-year-old daughter, Calliope, died in the fire. Ms Siapkara joined other grieving relatives outside the courthouse where they released black helium-filled balloons in remembrance of the tragedy.
Six of the defendants were initially found guilty in a trial that concluded last year, but an appeals court prosecutor challenged the verdict, leading to a retrial.
None of the defendants was jailed while awaiting the outcome of the second trial.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘They crossed the line' say locals after brazen tourists' ‘disrespectful' act caught on camera at ancient Greek site
‘They crossed the line' say locals after brazen tourists' ‘disrespectful' act caught on camera at ancient Greek site

The Irish Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘They crossed the line' say locals after brazen tourists' ‘disrespectful' act caught on camera at ancient Greek site

A TOURIST has been slammed by locals for engaging in a "disrespectful" act at an ancient Greek site. The fuming resident who took a photo shaming the defiler in Naxos, Greece, said the topless holidaymaker "crossed the line". 4 A tourist has been slammed by locals for engaging in a "disrespectful" act at an ancient Greek site Credit: Facebook 4 The horror incident reportedly happened at the famous Portara Credit: Getty 4 It is a 20-foot-high marble doorway on the history-rich islet of Palatia Credit: Getty Kiriakos Jr. Boulamatsis posted an image on Facebook of a tourist lifting up an ancient chunk of marble. The horror incident reportedly happened at the famous Portara - a 20-foot-high marble doorway on the history-rich islet of Palatia. It is the last part of a temple to Apollo which had been constructed between the 6th and 7th centuries BC but was reportedly abandoned due to political upheaval. The jaw-dropping pic shows the unidentified, topless defiler lifting up the gargantuan slab of stone. read more news It appeared to have been taken from the grounds surrounding the landmark - and therefore likely invaluable. A woman is stood in front of the man holding up her phone as he poses for a pic. The photo-op caused uproar on social media, with one user dubbing the defilement "disrespectful in every way". Meanwhile another fumed: "It feels like people are becoming more stupid year after year." Most read in The US Sun And: "Naxos is increasingly becoming a Disneyland and the visitors probably have money , but no respect and decency." The concerned resident who posted the act to Facebook, Boulamatsis, felt as if the horror incident showed the lack of protection measures at the site. Monkey gang caught 'running scam' targeting tourists at sacred temple It is free to visit but lacks any formal security or ticketing. The fuming local called on Naxos authorities to station security at the site alongside other measures to ensure the site's history remains. Boulamatsis also claimed that had this happened in another country, the defiler would have been "fined and deported". He added in his caption: "Wake up before it's too late." Naxos Mayor Dimitris Lianos said the Ministry of Culture was made aware of the incident and has since deployed a guard to the gate. It remains unclear how long the security will be at the site. Lianos told "What the Municipality and the residents of the island want, and we have submitted it to the Ministry of Culture, is for an on-site restoration and promotion of this particular archaeological site. "That is, for it to be maintained and operated in an organized manner, with a ticket and security, so as to ensure its protection and generate revenue that will be attributed to Culture." 4 The Portara, one of Naxos most famous landmarks connected to Naxos (Chora) town by a causeway Credit: Alamy

Doctor beheaded in lift accident as colleague watches in horror at hospital
Doctor beheaded in lift accident as colleague watches in horror at hospital

Irish Daily Mirror

time3 days ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Doctor beheaded in lift accident as colleague watches in horror at hospital

A colleague was left in shock as a doctor was beheaded by a lift in a horrific hospital accident. Hitoshi Nikaidoh, 35, was entering a second-floor lift at Christus St. Joseph Hospital, in Houston, Texas, the US, when the doors abruptly closed, trapping his shoulders. His head was severed when the lift ascended. A hospital worker witnessed the terrifying incident and spent approximately 20 minutes trapped inside the lift with the surgical resident's body before firefighters could rescue her. According to hospital spokesperson India Chumney Hancock, the woman who saw the horrifying tragedy was treated in the hospital's A&E department. Harris County medical examiners conducted an investigation into the incident and police stated that maintenance crews had serviced the lift earlier in the week. The entire bank of lifts stopped operating while the investigation took place. Dr Niakaidoh was born in Japan and relocated with his family to Connecticut as a child. He graduated from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School in June 2003, following his father's path into the field of surgery, reports the Mirror. The investigation discovered a single extra wire was the cause of the accident in lift 14 where Dr Nikaidoh lost his life. If the lift had been correctly configured, only a single wire, not two, would have been connected to one of the numerous controller studs in the elevator control system. The vacant space would have allowed the sensors to operate properly and the victim would have been freed without any harm done. Whilst the mispositioned wire was deemed the primary cause of Nikaidoh's death, worryingly, it was just one of several instances of negligent maintenance work on Elevator 14. In his investigation into the lift, Chief Elevator Inspector Ron Steele from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation discovered no less than 22 code violations. The lift was also a month late for its yearly inspection. Fire House reported lifts and escalators kill approximately 30 and injure around 17,100 individuals each year in the United States, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Historical records attribute the construction of the first elevator to the ancient Greek engineer and inventor Archimedes. It is thought he created a rudimentary design using hemp rope and manual power in the year 236 B.C.. Since then, the design and technology has advanced and while lifts are seen today as a relatively safe mode of transport, problems still occasionally occur. According to Crieff Law Firm, only one in 12 million lift journeys is estimated to encounter a problem. Even then, the majority of those problems tend to be issues like sticking doors and forgetful buttons. The law firm stated that statistically speaking, you are far more likely to be injured or killed by a slip and fall accident on a set of stairs than by a ride in a lift.

Four men arrested after Brit tourist, 21, ‘filmed having sex in Greece before sharing video'
Four men arrested after Brit tourist, 21, ‘filmed having sex in Greece before sharing video'

The Irish Sun

time5 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

Four men arrested after Brit tourist, 21, ‘filmed having sex in Greece before sharing video'

FOUR men have been arrested in Greece over allegations they filmed a Brit tourist having sex before sharing the video via their phones. Greek cops from Aktio-Vonitsa Police Station conducted the arrests yesterday in the Palairos area. 2 Greece, Ionian Coast, Palairos port 2 Greece, Ionian Coast, Palairos coastline The 21-year-old tourist had reported the four men - all of whom are in their 20s - to the authorities following the alleged incident. She had been on holiday in the area at the time. The complainant said that, while she was having sex with one of the men, the other three filmed it and shared it using their phones, has reported. The four men are reported to be aged 20, 22, 23 and 26. read more in world news A case has been filed against them for violation of personal data. They deny that they distributed the material and claim it was immediately deleted, according to reports. The men were arrested on Saturday, July 26. It comes after another Most read in The Sun The 16-year-old girl reported the alleged assault during a trip with her family. It is reported to have happened in broad daylight at Rhodes ' Ialysos beach . The girl claimed she was sexually assaulted while swimming in the sea with a 15-year-old Belgian boy. She told officers the boy allegedly assaulted her in the water twice without her consent. Cops took swift action and arrested the boy at 10pm that same evening. A rape case was filed against him. Another British tourist Greek authorities launched an immediate investigation after the 18-year-old filed a complaint. A 19-year-old Italian man was arrested in connection with the incident.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store