With the apologies of then -Mayor Marathon Elias Psinakis and his deputy mayor on cleaning and civil protection Vai Thanassia, the trial of the deadly fire in the Eye that left 104 dead continued today.

Mr Psinakis, who was on leave on July 2018 and returned the next day, as he said, referred to the actions he had taken as a municipality for civil protection issues, as the whole area often faces “difficult fires”.

At the beginning of his apology, Mr. Psinakis mentioned the image he had seen as a municipal councilor in the Municipality of Athens who mobilized him to deal with the public.

“All the occupation I had with the municipality began completely by accident. He fainted a hunger of hunger and I came into contact with this dramatic side. I wanted to do something and in the next elections I preferred to descend a candidate for Mayor of Marathon (instead of again in the Municipality of Athens) because I was living there and the area was completely unused with an international brand name.” Listing on the work done by his municipality in this direction, Mr. Psinakis concluded:

“The Marathon was heard with the work we did. Had to be heard by 490 BC“

Concerning the fateful afternoon of July 23, the then mayor said: “On the day this tragic fire took place, I was missing. I usually get August leave but due to many fires we have in the area in August, I got a July leave.

I was informed by my secretary very early (five and something in the afternoon). When I learned about the fire I was looking for a helicopter because I know that these fires are difficult. But flights were forbidden. So I found an inflatable big. He gave me a friendly family with his captain. It had five air and logically we had no problem. However, we were unable to approach (because of the conditions) … I arrived next in the morning. “

For the organization of the Municipality in Civil Protection, the defendant praised Mr Thanasia’s co -defendant, saying they had constant cooperation due to frequent fires.

“On the day of fire, what irony, signed (the death) recruitment of civilian staff for fire protection“

Mr. Psinakis stressed that the area, and especially the eye, is difficult to clean up of dry trees and others, but defending the Municipality’s actions to clean the area:

“The eye, while being a normal urban area, is forest. You can’t cut anything. The accident in it is that it has pine trees. It’s a forest and you can’t do anything unless you get permission from the Forestry Office. You don’t touch pine”

According to the then Marathon Mayor, what was asked by the fire or other body that day responded immediately.

“In the municipality we have the former American base. The fire department is also housed. It is a space with too many structures. We had taken care of there to be organized for every occasion.

At the base within half an hour that day came 2,500 people in swimsuit. We had everything. Food, water and even psychological support. Because we had always had the space ready and they knew it. “

President: Did your police officer get the fire brigade and said that your house was burning?

Accused: When I left I left my police officers, everyone behind. My mother did not find me and took my police officer. My mom didn’t know she was on fire everywhere. My police officer took the fire brigade and informed that he was on fire at home and was called “here the whole area burns” and closed it …

Conference: After you had space at the base because you didn’t think earlier to take the police to declare it to drive this world there cooked?

Accused: The marathon was closed. Who would risked to take people? Go to him?

Conference: At 18.00 the situation was now difficult (in the eye). Why wasn’t it decided at that time, without any suggestion, to move there?

Accused: The municipality has a supportive role in the Fire Brigade. If the fire brigade has not given a suggestion, it cannot take the world. Two municipalities were now involved. The decision was in the region if the fire brigade suggested.

Conference: Organized removal concerns the citizen, it is not a supportive effect on the Fire Brigade. It is a decision to be supported by other bodies.

Accused: How will we persuade someone to leave? I tell you my mother. We wouldn’t leave and tell her. Many were in their homes and threw waters.

Conference: If the Fire Brigade for OPA (organized preventive removal) gave a suggestion to carry them to the base?

Accused: Of course! We had 30 vehicles and 50 staff and if they indicated us we could. After all, they help us.

Conference: Could you at six?

Accused: I don’t know that. I don’t know exactly how the situation was.

Mr. Thanasias at the beginning of his apology said:

“I feel heavy sadness for the people lost in the tragic fire and have full empathy and respect for their relatives“

The then deputy mayor at the Marathon referred to the actions taken to make the municipality that had civil protection that could respond to the conditions of the area.

“In February 2018, the first business plan of the Municipality was drawn up. We had close collaboration with teams of volunteers to whom we provided in and materials to what we were asked to volunteer forestry we had given vehicles, batteries, spare parts and everything else they were asking for. In June 2018 we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the volunteers and had every right to give them what they were asking for” Referring to the issue of cleaning from greens, branches and dry, Mr Thanasias said that the cleaning department was operating double shifts and whatever they made sure to find plots that had not been cleaned to alert the owners to clean them.

On the day in question, the defendant said that due to the degree of danger all the staff was in his posts and that from the first moment the forestry officials were involved in the business part to deal with the fire. “We were tuned and ready“

The defendant stressed that he was looking for in vain information from fire and police to inform the citizens.

“We were not given any information to inform the world and the intensity of the fire“

According to the defendant, when the fire was marched to the boundaries of the municipality, he alerted in 199 asking aid: “I told them I don’t see aerial. They asked me where they should go. No one had any information … around 18.30 to seven, the fire descends from New Voutza to the Marathon. I went and saw huge flames and pine nuts flying on the avenue that was considered a fireplace… “

The defendant said they were provided immediately when they were asked (after the fire had passed) two coaches from the Central Civil Protection Coordinating Body for the world in Eye.

“We went with a coach eye. The fire had reached the sea. I can’t describe what we saw. Burnt cables, ashes everywhere, people running strangers. We still didn’t know or imagine that there were dead …

People were in shock and didn’t get into the coaches. They didn’t want to go anywhere … When we went to the Nea Makris Municipal Store. Many people. They even came from foreign embassies and were looking for their citizens …

The following days and for many years we have been hosting people in our camps. People without home were found and until they made another or restore, we secured shelter and canteens. From one moment to another we found people on the street, people left life …“

Chairman: When did people arrive at the base?

Accused: Around eight, eight and a half.

Chairman: How were they informed to get there?

Accused: Many went to Nea Makris Municipal Store and told them to go there. Others came by car, others on foot.

The trial will continue on Tuesday 25 February.