Last summer, fires devastated two coastal towns in Greece, leaving 103 dead. Was the government to blame? Survivors and rescuers look back It was 6pm when the smoke reached the town of Mati on the east coast of Greece, 18 miles from Athens. The seaside resort was full of holidaymakers in hotels, or visiting their weekend homes. Within an hour , flames had started to engulf the town , turning the sky red. By 8pm on 23 July 2018, the fire had destroyed Mati and nearby Kokkino Limanaki; it left 103 dead and more than 140 in hospital, many with severe burns. People died in their homes, in their cars, or as they tried to get to the sea. Those who made it dipped below the waves to stay cool as they waited for the coastguard and local fishermen to rescue them. The flames were propelled by gale-force winds, and the heat reached 800C. The next day, officials estimated that about 40,000 pine and olive trees, along with 4,000 homes, had been destroyed. Continue reading...