Earlier on Friday
The Fire Department issued a notice calling upon people to come on Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM to see if any of the existing corpses belong to their families.
“Relatives of missing people are requested to come to the Amphitheater of the Laboratory of the Forensic Medicine Department of the University of Athens, 75 Mikra Asia Street in Goudi from July 25, 2018 until Friday July 27, 2018 between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM so that they can be updated on the process that will identify victims of the fires, providing necessary information to aid the authorities’ efforts.”
7/25/2018 11:24 The complete government relief measures for those affected by the fires
Government representative, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, announced the complete relief measures that the government will implement for those affected by the fires. The measures are separated into three categories and they include “measures to provide immediate relief and assistance to those affected,” “measures to compensate and support the families of the victims,” and “measures to restore material damages of individuals, but also public infrastructure.”
7/27/2018 08:09 Flood Control Infrastructure Placed in the Municipalities of Rafine and Marathon
Due to a command by Minister of National Defense, Panos Kammenos, flood control infrastructure is being implemented by the Greek Armed Forces in Marathon and Rafina. These measures will include the placement, cleaning, and cutting of trees and bushes allowing rainwater to flow directly to the sea.
7/27/2018 09:35 PM Tsipras Took Political Responsibility For the Consequences of the Fires
Alexis Tsipras spoke on Friday evening in front of ministerial council and took responsibility for the catastrophic consequences of the fires. He stated that the government will not avoid their responsibilities and ensured that it will address the issue of arbitrary housing that has been around for decades with strict measures rather than “painkillers” that temporarily alleviate the problem until the next tragedy. He mentioned that the evidence so far points to arson and he called upon the “warlords on the couch” to not fight against those who saved the lives of thousands of people and defended his decision to not accept Nikos Toskas’ resignation.
7/27/2018 08:09 What We Know So Far
- 87 have been announced dead as of Friday evening, more than 52 people are hospitalized of which 10 are in critical condition, the number of missing people remains unknown, and necrotomies have been completed
- Alexis Tsipras assumed political responsibility for the catastrophic consequences of the blazes
- 198 homes have been declared uninhabitable in Kineta, Rafina, and Pikermi after extensive autopsies carried out by engineers from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
- Around 32,000 acres have burned in Attica
- The wave of solidarity not only within Greece, but also from foreign countries and their citizens is monumental
- The Minister of Citizen Protection, Nikos Toskas, stated on Thursday that “there is strong evidence that points toward criminal activity as the cause of the fires.” He further added that searches are ongoing as the first witnesses have been summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office
- There are no longer any active fire fronts; however, the fire brigade and volunteers remain alert and have not strayed from the initial points where the fires broke out
7/27/2018 08:06 Witness Testimonies of the Fires in the Prosecutor’s Office
The Prosecutor’s Office is expected to receive the first witnesses of the fires to testify in the preliminary investigation of the causes of the blazes. Among those who have been called to testify is the Fire Chief.
7/27/2018 07:36 Famous Director, Theodoros Angelopoulos, Lost His Home in the Blaze
The home of late award-winning director, Theodoros Angelopoulos, who lost his life in a car accident in 2012, also lost his home, located near the Silver Coast Tavern, in the fires. His home was completely destroyed by the fires, burning his personal archive, documents, and books.
7/27/2018 07:31 “The State’s Initial Reaction to the Situation Is To Be Commended”
The mayor of Melissia – Penteli – Nea Penteli, Dimitris Stergiou, who, from the very beginning, stated that “the State’s initial reaction to the situation is to be commended,” testified via a television interview on the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation.
“Within the first 15 minutes we had 3 aircraft, 2 firefighting Canadair planes, and a helicopter directly over the flames. The State’s initial reaction was impressive and I want to emphasize that. With all of my personal experience, I was completely surprised by the immediate action of both volunteers, the Fire Brigade, and the various firefighting aircraft.”
He further explained that the mayor gives the order to evacuate after taking into account the suggestion of the Fire Chief. Referring to the fire’s path towards Mati, he noted that nothing could be done to prevent the uncontrollable situation other than warning the people that they were in danger. “All those who say that the fire should have been stopped at Marathon Avenue, a route that runs through eastern Attica, should realize that the entire Fire Brigade would have been wiped out,” referring to the fact that there would be many more victims if cars had been diverted towards Marathon Avenue.
7/27/2018 05:51 87 Dead
The death toll has reached 87. A 62-year-old man, who was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at Annunciation Hospital, died last Friday.
7/27/2018 Free Psychological Support Services for Children and Teenagers
The group “Together for the Children” offers free psychological support services to children, teenagers, and parents who were hurt by the fires.
Call the hotline at 115-25, Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM for psychological support services either through the phone or online for children, teenagers, and parents.
At the same time, psychologists and mental health counselors are available to welcome and listen to parents and children that experienced the shock of the fires from near or afar who want to talk to or look for psychological support.
There is a “Welfare” Support Line for parents, relatives, educators and mental health professionals who either care for children who have lost their relatives or friends, or families who are devastated by the loss of a child.
Specifically:
“Welfare” Support Line: 210 64 63 622, Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The line provides live psychological support to families with children or teenagers who have lost a loved one, by appointment (call 210 64 63 622) at the offices of “Welfare,” Papanikoli 2A Chalandri
7/27/2018 03:47 New Democracy Asks Seven Questions About the Fires
In a statement by Press representative, Maria Spiraki, of the New Democracy party, she asked the following questions:
Just as the Fire Chief admitted, why were there not enough forces in the area before the fire started? Everybody knew that it would be the most dangerous day of the summer for a fire outbreak in eastern Attica. The degree of danger was at level 4.
Why was Mati not immediately evacuated when the government admits that there was enough time to predict the direction of the fire?
Why didn’t the 112 phone number work–a which gives people in the affected areas the ability to receive mobile phone messages?
Why didn’t the government utilize the Media to warn people to abandon their homes?
Was there any particular plan for saving people who fell into the sea?
During the fires, why were tons of cars disembarking at the port of Rafina and why were cars diverted from Marathon Avenue to Mati?
How is it possible that the extent of the disaster was known since 8:15 PM, but at midnight officials assured the prime minister that the fires were receding, while several people had already been lost?