Unidentified Remains Found in Mati Wildfire Mass Grave

The news in Greek

Translation

In Greece, during the summer of 2018, a large wildfire broke out in the area of Mati. This fire caused many losses. It has now been discovered that there are still unidentified remains in a mass grave. Families are seeking justice and wish to know the truth about the number of victims.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What happened in the summer of 2018 in Mati, Greece?

A large wildfire occurred, which caused many losses.

Question 2: What do the families of the victims want?

They want justice and to know the truth about the number of victims.

Exercise: Vocabulary

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▌04/11/2024

In a shocking revelation that has brought renewed scrutiny to one of Greece's most tragic events, it has been revealed that unidentified human remains and biological materials from the devastating Mati wildfire are still buried in a mass grave. The grave, situated in the cemetery of Nea Makri, was established following the catastrophic blaze in Eastern Attica on 23 July 2018.

The revelation was made public by the Association of Families of Victims and Burned Persons associated with the disaster, igniting fresh concerns over the unidentified human remains and the true death toll of the fire. Documents that recently came into the possession of the association led to this disquieting disclosure.

According to the association's President, Sophia Angeliki Chamilothori, and General Secretary, Aristeidis Cherouvim, correspondence from a fire department official to the prosecutor requested "arrangements for the burial of parts of human remains and biological material, as well as animal bones." This communication underscores longstanding suspicions that not all remains were properly identified or processed.

The association accuses the authorities involved in the burial of the mass grave of effectively contributing to a cover-up of the actual number of victims. Relatives have been pressing for answers, highlighting not only the ethical implications but also raising questions about whether the full truth of the death toll will ever come to light.

Unidentified Remains Found in Mati Wildfire Mass Grave (Illustration)

This mass grave was sanctioned by the Municipality of Marathon, which provided the land for burial. It came to light through a series of documents, including a deputy mayor's decision dated April 2019, which permitted the internment of these remains. However, upon further investigation, more documents revealed the stark truth that some aspects of the burial were mismanaged or potentially concealed.

Testimonies related to these events describe instances where bodies were misidentified and later required DNA testing after family members raised concerns. One witness recounted discovering that a body buried as their relative did not match their DNA, leading to subsequent legal actions.

There is also an intimation of disrespectful handling of the deceased, with the mingling of human and animal remains, which is reportedly against legal procedures that demand separate and sanitary measures for animal bones.

Despite the passage of six years, the families of those who lost their lives continue to seek closure, demanding that the full truth be uncovered and respected. They vow to keep advocating for transparency and justice for their loved ones, pushing for an open acknowledgment of the actual number of victims affected by the tragedy.

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