Neos Voutzas

The failure of the state apparatus to prevent the massive loss of life and the destruction of homes in the July 2018 wildfires in the east Attica towns of Neos Voutzas, Mati and Kokkino Limanaki have raised concerns about the country's ability to deal with potentially major wildfires this summer.

The relatives of a victim of July's devastating fires in eastern Attica on Thursday lodged a legal suit, seeking 1.45 million euros in damages in the first appeal for compensation from the state for emotional distress.

In their lawsuit, the relatives point to "criminal omissions" by the Greek state, the Regional Authority of Attica and the Municipality of Marathon.

The family of a victim who died in a deadly blaze that destroyed eastern Attica last summer will submit on Thursday a lawsuit against state entities seeking damages for emotional distress, the lawfirm that represents the family said Wednesday.

Residents of the coastal settlements of Mati and Neos Voutzas, which bore the brunt of July's disastrous wildfires, are up in arms over the government's backtracking on pledges to relieve them of paying the unified property tax (ENFIA). 

A judicial investigation into the causes of the disastrous wildfires on the outskirts of Attica last month points to major shortcomings and mistakes by members of Greece's fire service and regional authorities, Kathimerini understands. 

Survivors of last month's deadly blazes on the outskirts of Attica are struggling to cope while experts are warning of the public health risks posed by toxic ash in the afflicted areas, Kathimerini has learned. 

The first legal suit against the Greek authorities over the disastrous fires in Attica last week that killed more than 90 people was lodged on Wednesday by relatives of the victims.

Rescue crews Wednesday continued to search the seaside areas northeast of Athens that were the worst affected by wildfires to locate any further victims, as the official death toll rose to 80.

Four people have been arrested for suspected looting in the settlement of Neos Voutzas, east of Athens, which was ravaged by fire.

The suspects, aged between 22 and 26, were arrested by members of the Greek Police's motorcycle-riding DIAS squad after breaking into a home evacuated during the deadly inferno.

The fire has so far claimed the lives of 76 people.

We woke up on Tuesday morning to the smell of smoke here in Artemida, a few kilometers south of tragedy-stricken Rafina. The sun is pale and the sky is almost as smoky as it was last night.