On the planning of government actions regarding the destructive fires that continue their work in our country, the effects of the climate crisis and the visit of a government team to Patra, the Deputy Minister of State for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, who, when asked about state assistance to fire victims, said that “a series of measures will be announced on Monday”.

“On Monday, a government team will go (to Achaia), which will consist of me, the Interior Minister, Mr. Livanios, the chairman of ELGA, the deputy minister. of the Ministry of Environment, where we will talk with the mayors and the Region, so that we can launch and make a plan that will lead Achaia, after this very large and dangerous fire, which even today we are facing, the next day, “said Mr. Katsafados.

Speaking about the measures planned, he referred to the exemption from ENFIA for the next three years for every house damaged or destroyed that has been declared yellow or red, through an autopsy by the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Rehabilitation, noting that a series of measures will be announced next Monday.

Asked to comment on the extent and destructive fury of the fires, Katsafados replied that “we are not talking about 7 or 8 Beaufort winds, but 9 and 10 Beaufort winds”. Referring to climate change he said: “The climate crisis, not climate change, is here and we are experiencing it with tragic events.” At the same time, he referred to the catastrophic fires in Europe and the Balkans.

“We are here to do our best and first and foremost to protect human lives, then property and of course the natural environment,” Katsafados said. On criticisms of negligence in extinguishing the fire, he said: “Obviously there is always room for improvement. There is always room for improvement.”
The climate crisis is a dynamic phenomenon that we are called upon to follow with new technologies and with the country’s scientific personnel.”

The Deputy Minister of State for Climate Crisis also expressed his warm congratulations “not only to the Fire Service personnel who for the first time exceed 18,000”, a number he described as a “record for the Fire Service”. He also made special mention of the volunteers, who he said “made every possible effort” and the members of the Armed Forces, the Security Forces and the local authorities, who, he noted, contributed to the prevention of loss of life and the protection of property and the natural environment.

“A difficult struggle and an unequal battle”

“It is a difficult struggle and an unequal battle and obviously we have to give our best,” Katsafados told the reporter of the “Newsroom” show, while speaking about the help from the European support mechanism, he said that “obviously we alone cannot respond as only the previous day more than 120 fires were recorded across the country.”

Speaking about Patras where the fire entered the industrial zone and districts he said: “In Achaia we had four fires yesterday in the same area and in Preveza we had six different fires. The resources and forces a country has are not endless.” That is why, he said, we asked for the European Support Mechanism to be activated.

The Deputy Minister concluded by focusing on prevention issues: “Let me recall the institution of cleaning up the gross land plots that started last year and continues with great success. We should all take part in this battle, because when we talk about the natural environment, we are talking about our own lives and property.” In conclusion, Mr Katsafados noted: “The Civil Protection instructions must be understood that they are not just instructions, they are orders that save lives and property.” And as he pointed out, last year alone, more than 2,000 fires were caused by human error.