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Thessaloniki Municipalities Declared in State of Emergency After Fire
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Thessaloniki Municipalities Declared in State of Emergency After Fire

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Municipalities of Oreokastro and Pavlos Melas in Thessaloniki have been declared in a state of emergency following a large fire.
  • Authorities are assessing damages to approve state funding and implement relief measures for affected residents and businesses.
  • The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection urged citizens to follow civil protection guidelines for their safety and property.

The municipalities of Oreokastro and Pavlos Melas in Thessaloniki are now in a state of emergency after a significant fire erupted last Saturday evening. Authorities are actively assessing the damage to buildings and infrastructure, with the goal of securing state budget funds for immediate relief and recovery efforts.

Both municipalities will be placed in a state of emergency and today. Now we will discuss the funding, which they will receive.

— Kostas KatsafadosDeputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, speaking at a meeting in Oreokastro City Hall.

Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, announced that the process of damage assessment has begun. He stated that both municipalities would be placed under emergency status, and funding would be allocated promptly. "We are here for the next day so that no one feels left behind and helpless," Katsafados said during a meeting at the Oreokastro City Hall. He emphasized that efforts would focus on compensating affected individuals and businesses, as well as addressing infrastructure needs for both the region and the municipalities.

Katsafados also addressed the issue of property owners failing to clear their land, a preventative measure implemented for three years. He noted that while declarations for land clearing have increased, many plots remain unkempt. He clarified that the deadline for applications does not prevent property owners from clearing their land now, and the Fire Service is investigating numerous complaints.

We are here for the next day so that no one feels left behind and helpless. Together with the two mayors and the regional governor, we will coordinate our actions and set timelines that will be immediate so that the affected parties are compensated.

— Kostas KatsafadosExplaining the government's commitment to assisting those affected by the fire.

The Deputy Minister appealed to all residents of Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas to strictly follow the directives of Civil Protection. He stressed that these guidelines are not mere suggestions but "commands that save lives, property, and the natural environment."

The instructions of Civil Protection are not instructions, they are commands that save. They are there to save the life of each and every one of us. They are commands that save our property. Commands that save the natural environment.

— Kostas KatsafadosUrging citizens to adhere to civil protection guidelines.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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