Greece Announces Immediate Measures After Fires

Anti-corrosion and anti flooding works. Photo source: Environment Ministry.

The Greek government announced this week a series of immediate measures including anti-flooding works and the creation of forest cooperatives after the fires in Parnitha, outside Athens, and in Evros, where they are still uncontained.

The news was announced by Environment Minister Theodoros Skylakakis after a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias, and deputy ministers.

Both Parnitha and Evros will be reforested, anti-flooding and anti-corrosion works will begin immediately, and “actions will be taken to support in the coming months animals that managed to survive”, said Skylakakis.

Photo source: EU civil protection and humanitarian aid.

A fire relief platform is set to open in the coming period offering among others aid and compensation to affected businesses, a rent subsidy for homes that are no longer habitable and suspended tax obligations for a period of six months.

The prime minister and Skylakakis also discussed the results of actions already taken to address the toll of previous fires as well as preventative measures for the “protection of the country’s woodland”.

Additionally, increasing policing in the area of Evros and border guards in Rodopi and using new fire detection and protection technologies were also discussed.

Photo source: EU civil protection and humanitarian aid.

The Greek government has also decided to introduce “restoration contractors” who will be responsible for the implementation of related projects as well as forestry cooperatives.

Fire prevention and other measures will be discussed in parliament on Thursday and top the agenda of a cabinet meeting on Friday, after which Mitsotakis will be visiting Rhodes for the first time after the blazes that devastated the island in July.

According to Copernicus, after 11 days, the fire in Evros has burned most of the Dadia Forest and over 808.7km2 of woodland, an area larger than New York City, making it the largest ever recorded in the European Union.

Meanwhile an investigation is underway to determine the causes of the fires which have been burning vast areas of woodland across the country.