Greek court jails four ex-officials over 2018 wildfire
Three former fire chiefs and a former civil protection secretary were sentenced to five years in prison each on Wednesday over a deadly wildfire near Athens in 2018.
The blaze -- the deadliest in modern Greek history -- killed 104 people and injured dozens in the seaside resort of Mati on July 23, 2018.
Many of the victims were trapped in traffic as they tried to flee the flames. Others drowned while they tried to escape by sea.
Fishermen rescued many of the survivors.
The Athens Court of Appeal increased the sentences of the four, sentencing them to 340 years in prison, with five years to be served, the state-run ANA news agency said.
The court president said the custodial sentences were imposed as the officials were considered likely "to commit further offences", according to ANA.
The court's prosecutor had argued for prison terms to deter future "reckless acts", ANA said.
A lower court had initially handed suspended five-year terms and 40,000-euro fines to the four officials last year for involuntary manslaughter and criminal negligence.
The court also sentenced six other defendants, including fire officers, to 238 years in prison with five years to be served, commutable at 10 euros per day, ANA said.
At the time, then prime minister Alexis Tsipras's left-wing government blamed strong winds gusting up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour for the chaotic evacuation.
Residents said they received no warning of the impending danger.
Twenty-one people were initially charged, including several local and political officia
