Spine-chilling images have emerged from the somber eighth anniversary of the deadly Mati wildfire, which claimed 104 lives and left dozens more injured. Following a procession along the “road of fire” from Neos Voutzas to Mati, dozens of people — relatives of the victims and ordinary citizens alike — placed lanterns on the beach and floated them out to sea in honor of those lost in the tragedy of July 23, 2018, which shook all of Greece.
The 8th dark anniversary of the Mati fire: “The road of fire”
The commemorations began at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday (July 23) with a memorial service held at the Church of Saint John the Baptist. This was followed by a roll call during which all 104 names were read aloud once more. A large crowd attended the ceremony, among them infants, young children, teenagers, elderly people, and entire families — all who never made it to safety.
A procession of survivors, bereaved relatives, friends, and political party representatives then made its way from Neos Voutzas to Mati. Midway along the route, the procession paused at a spot in Neos Voutzas where 17 small cypress trees stand as a tribute to those who lost their lives at that very location. They then continued on to Mati — the place where people ran desperately for their lives, where some became trapped, and where dozens reached the sea in the hope of finding salvation, remaining in the water for hours.
A second memorial service was then held at the Mati Nautical Athletic Club (N.A.O.MA), and at around 9:30 p.m. a new procession set off toward Argyra Akti. There, at Argyra Akti, 104 glowing lanterns were released onto the waters of the sea, illuminating the darkness in memory of the 104 people who lost their lives so unjustly. Immediately afterward, those gathered embraced one another and once again pledged to fight against forgetting.
As the Association of Relatives of the Deceased and Burn Victims stated in its announcement, this anniversary serves as a constant reminder of the value of human life and a shared responsibility to uphold truth and accountability.
See the images:
