According to Cretalive.gr, about 200 residents live permanently in the village, and they are distressed, unsure how to handle the increasingly worsening situation. An assessment has found that 15 houses are completely uninhabitable, while many others need repairs; almost all homes in the settlement have developed cracks.

“This story has been ongoing for over 20 years. We have commissioned studies that must be completed to determine whether the village should be abandoned,” said Mayor Grigoris Nikolidakis to Cretalive.
He also mentioned that he has been in phone contact with the head of OASP, informing him in detail about the geological phenomenon in Magarikári.

As the Mayor stated, he has sent photos and previous studies to Mr. Lekkas, who has promised to return to Crete early next week to investigate this geological issue in the village of Messara himself.

A study conducted in 2023 by the Municipality of Faiakes highlights that the geological phenomenon causes significant unrest and feelings of abandonment among locals. The cracks are expanding, and new cracks are forming around the village, with residents resorting to makeshift repairs. The necessary interventions, such as completing the drainage project, which was halted several years ago, need to be urgently implemented.

The geological phenomenon involves landslides, according to the 2023 study by Faiakes Municipality. During inspections of 80 buildings in the historic settlement, 15% were found to be unfit for use due to major damages, and 60% showed serious structural issues. During our report, we met residents living in dangerous houses, and several have already left the village.

The study by the Municipality of Faiakes clearly underscores the area’s risk, emphasizing the urgent need for further studies and the construction of permanent remediation works to address the landslides.