Memorial for Mati Fire Victims: Emotion and Balloons in the Sky

Emotion and grief prevailed at the memorial service for the 104 victims of the deadly fire in Mati, held seven years after the tragedy. Relatives and friends gathered to honor the memory of their loved ones.

The events began with a Trisagion service at the Victims' Memorial in Neo Voutzas, where hundreds of people paid tribute. This was followed by a roll call of the dead and a two-minute silence. Afterwards, those present laid flowers at the memorial and held a procession to N.A.O.M.A. in Mati.

On the beach of Mati, relatives of the victims read out the names of the dead and released red balloons into the sky, while also making lanterns. Relatives of victims spoke of the pain that remains etched in their souls and the lack of support from the state.

The 2018 fire in Mati was one of the greatest tragedies in Greek history, with 104 people losing their lives. Seven years later, the area still bears the marks of the disaster.