An elderly man collapsed at the National Bank of Greece’s branch at Toumba in Thessaloniki on Tuesday while waiting in line to pay the first installment of the single property tax (ENFIA). Eye-witness reports state that the man, believed to be around the age of 70 years, stood waiting for one and a half hours on the last day for the deadline of the first installment and complained of feeling unwell. He took a seat and asked others to keep his place in the line, however collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital but couldn’t be revived.

Prosecutor Foteini Kreonidou has ordered an investigation concerning the circumstances of the death in order to ascertain if there was any wrongdoing or legal responsibility.

The death of the elderly man on the final day for the payment of the first tax installment is seen as symbolic by the local press that takes the opportunity to emphasize the stressfulness of the tax. Hundreds of thousands of citizens scramble to gather the money and paperwork and then wait in long lines, usually for over an hour, in order to pay the ENFIA tax.The elderly man in Thessaloniki is seen as having paid with his life.