Six years after the devastating wildfire that ravaged the coastal resort of Mati, east of Athens, survivors of the deadly July 2018 inferno, which claimed 104 lives, are opening up about their harrowing experiences. Victims recounted prolonged hospital stays, relentless pain and the profound psychological and financial hardships they have endured since the tragedy.
“They stared at me… ‘I am a burn victim from Mati.’ That’s all I told them.
On the day of the Mati wildfire, Marianthi Chandrinou and her mother sought refuge on a beach. For hours, they desperately called the coast guard for help as smoke engulfed the area and intense heat burned their bodies.
At 17, Marianthi spent two and a half months in the hospital with burns on 15% of her body. She turned 18 in her hospital room, enduring multiple skin transplants and blood transfusions. While her classmates celebrated vacations and awaited university exam results, she awaited her discharge.
Today, Marianthi works as a health visitor. Her ordeal has given her a deep understanding of pain and the ability to provide her patients with the compassion they need. Now 23, she has learned to love herself and her body, recognizing that self-love is essential before expecting it from others. It hasn’t always been easy, as she had to endure curious glances and intrusive questions.
Marianthi recalls the early years. “They stared at me… ‘I am a burn victim from Mati.’ That’s all I told them. Whoever understood, understood. Now they don’t look at the burns, they look at me, because I show them where to look,” she says with confidence.
“I had to start learning to walk all over again”
Dimitris Filippis also burn victim says: “The first slap in the face was when I tried to stand up. I had to start learning to walk all over again,” He spent four months in a hospital, with two and a half months in an ICU and one and a half months under complete sedation.
Filippis vividly recalls the harrowing events of July 23rd. During his escape, a gust of wind severely burned his lungs and hands, while his legs were also burned. In his struggle to stand up, he further injured his hand by grabbing a pole. Throughout this ordeal, thoughts of his son, Konstantinos, and his mother gave him the strength to persevere.
Dimitris used to create bronze constructions, lights and furniture. However, he lost his hand and can no longer return to his work. The family’s life has changed dramatically. “When I went before the committee, they classified my hand as amputated. But by the time I got the paperwork, it was no longer… amputated, it was stiffened,” he says with disappointment.
A glimmer of hope emerges from the carnage
From the ashes of the Mati wildfire emerged the Greek Association for Burn Survivors, a system designed to support burn victims at every stage of their recovery. In collaboration with the ministry of health, it aims to ensure that basic expenses are covered through EOPYY, Greece’s state-run national healthcare provisions provider.
Two dedicated volunteers and Mati residents, Marina Karyda and Alexandros Andronopoulos, founded SALVIA, an organization aiding survivors in healing their wounds. “SALVIA, the plant of fire,” says Marina, who authored the book “Mati, July 23, 2018,” in remembrance of the national tragedy.
According to SALVIA, around 4,000 people suffer severe burns annually in Greece, with 800 requiring hospitalization. The road to recovery remains arduous, as burn victims continue to seek additional support for physiotherapy, psychological sessions, and complex surgeries.
