A Greek appeals court on Tuesday found 10 people guilty of misdemeanor charges related to a 2018 wildfire that killed 104 people. The ruling has sparked anger among relatives of those who died in the country’s worst wildfire disaster in recent history.
The court upheld a lower court verdict from last year but convicted an additional four people on misdemeanor charges, including involuntary manslaughter, bringing the total to 10. Those convicted include former fire brigade officials and a man accused of arson, according to legal sources.
Eleven people, including regional governors, were acquitted.
The sentences will be announced on Wednesday. The penalty for a misdemeanor may be a suspended prison sentence or a jail term with the alternative of a fine.
The blaze tore through the seaside town of Mati, about 27 km (17 miles) east of Athens, in July 2018, killing 104 people and injuring dozens. Most victims were trapped in a network of densely-forested streets as they attempted to escape in their cars.
Read more: Hamas Responds to Ceasefire Proposal, Demands End to Gaza War
“Such a horrible disaster so badly handled and it’s being treated as a misdemeanor. That’s far too lenient. It’s sad,” said Alexandros Papasteriopoulos, a lawyer representing relatives of the deceased.
Survivors and relatives released black balloons and held white roses during the trial to honor those killed. They shouted “shame” when the verdict was announced.
The disaster cast a shadow over the then-leftist Syriza government, with survivors accusing authorities of mishandling rescue efforts. Authorities denied the accusations, stating that erratic winds fueling the flames left no time for coordinated action.
Devastating wildfires have become more frequent in Mediterranean countries. Scientists attribute their increased frequency and intensity to the increasingly hot and dry weather conditions linked to climate change.
