The case involving the mayor of Patmos, Nikitas Tsampalakis, who demands explanations instead of apologizing for the disgraceful image of Patmos in the middle of August, has reached the prosecutor. A preliminary investigation has already been ordered by the Dodecanese Prosecutor’s Office and is expected to begin on Monday.

At a time when the biological treatment plant in Hochlakas has not been functioning—with untreated sewage flowing into the sea since 2022—and many taps on the island running… brown, foul-smelling water, the mayor merely reassures (with added threats) that the sewage network is not connected to the water supply. This ignores the fact that, as reported, due to the non-operation of the treatment plant, sewage trucks have been dumping waste uncontrollably with no one knowing where it ends up.

Meanwhile, EYDAP’s administration—possessing extensive expertise in such issues—was moved by related reports, including from protothema.gr, and is sending a special mission to the island to immediately restart the sewage treatment plant.

Tomorrow, five vehicles and a team of eight trained, specialized employees will arrive to assist in urgently addressing the problem.

The vehicles involved in the mission include two tri-axle sewage tankers, a van with all necessary equipment capable of entering closed underground spaces, a truck with a crane and suction hoses, and a 4×4 truck with a trailer and sewage pumps.

Pollution, stench, and health risks in Patmos – Sewage plant out of order

The eight EYDAP employees, along with the vehicles and all the required specialized equipment, are highly experienced and fully trained to assist the Patmos municipal workers, for whom the issue appears to be unprecedented.

Nevertheless, it remains puzzling why the mayor has not sought help for the past two years from specialized agencies such as EYDAP, in order to ensure that, at the very least, unpleasant odors would not plague one of Greece’s most famous islands in the middle of the tourist season.