7/26/2018 15:57 The Government Is Blaming the Weather For What Happened
 
Government representative, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, and Minister of Citizen Protection, Niko Toskas, held a press conference with Hellenic Police and Fire officials regarding the destructive fires that took the lives of at least 83 people and injured more than 185. Mr. Tzanakopoulos stated that there was no way to foresee the course the fires would take and Mr. Toskas spoke of serious signs of arson. He further noted that he submitted his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Tsipras. 
 
7/26/18 13:05 
 
Mr. Tzanakopoulos: Both the government and those fighting this difficult battle are deeply saddened by the extensive loss of life, but at the same time, proud of those who have bled and saved human life. We will move forward.
 
7/26/2018 13:04 
 
Mr. Toskas: Homes have been searched for the dead, but it can be hard to find people in places that are not easily accessible. Some homes are even locked. We will continue to search on a daily basis.
 
7/26/2018 13:04
 
Mr. Toskas: Concerning searches for missing people, we are constantly revising the list. There are dead that have not been identified, but also those who have yet to be found. We have removed 40 people from the missing person list that were found perished in their homes. 
 
7/26/2018 13:03 
 
Mr. Tzanakopoulos: We tried to create certain limits for an account established to provide funds to fire victims. There will be a meeting that will discuss how such an account will be monitored and controlled.
 
7/26/2018 13:03
 
Mr. Toskas: We did not keep anything quiet and, in fact, we came here to better understand the situation. From here on out, the impressive effort of those who saved lives will be recognized. 
 
7/26/2018 13:02
 
Toskas: Regarding the speed of the flames and the possibilities of evacuation, every situation was unique. We cannot compare dissimilar things by each affected region. 
 
Tzanakopoulos: The issue of urban and spatial planning in Mati and other regions will be taken into account. We will not build on top of the burned remains. 
 
7/26/2018 12:40
 
Toskas: Considering the matter of finding people and transporting them from the burned ruins: I’m sorry, but we are talking about thousands of people. Think about the incredible effort that has occurred in such a short period of time.
 
7/26/2018 12:20 
 
Toskas: Could ships have been ready to transport people away from the flames? It is not an immediate process, but I hope that it was not possible. We need time to figure this out.
 
Tzanakopoulos: We cannot start blaming one another. The fires moved so fast that it would simply be humanly impossible to evacuate a city of 20,000 people. 
 
7/26/2018 12:07
 
Toskas: There will certainly be mistakes. Many correct actions were taken at the operational level. I can’t find any large mistakes. Of course there is responsibility for those who lost their lives. 
 
7/26/2018 12:05 
 
Toskas: In Nea Makri at midnight last night, there were two instances of attempted arson.
 
7/26/2018 12:04
 
Toskas: I understand that there is serious evidence that shows criminal activity related to the fires and we are further investigating such evidence.

7/25/2018 21:30 Request by the Fire Department for people to identify the victims

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 21:24 The complete government relief measures for those affected by the fires

Government representative, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, announced the complete relief measures that the governmen7/25/2018 11:30 Request by the Fire Department for people to identify the victims

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 21:24 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.t 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.”

(Link to article in Greek)

7/25/2018 09:49 Blaze in Rodos

A blaze, which started to burn on Wednesday evening on Mount Agios Stefanos (Mount Smith region) on the outskirts of the city of Rodos, has a completely unknown cause. According to the Fire Authorities, the fire is under some control and is not endangering anyone.

7/25/2018 09:37 Record of damages in Eastern Attica

According to the Athenian-Macedonian New Agency, more than 200 engineers from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport recorded damages to buildings of those affected by the fires in the regions of eastern Attica. Hundreds of engineers have traveled to western Attica and Corinth to log disasters.

7/25/2018 09:29 81 dead and more than 100 injured

The official update by the Fire Department states the death toll at 81 so far. Searches and logging of more than 100 missing people continue.

7/25/2018 08:01 64 people are being cared for in hospitals all over Attica

60 adults and 4 children are hospitalized in hospitals throughout the Attica region, according to the director of the National Health Center, Nikos Athanasios. 11 of the injured who are in critical condition remain connected to IV.

7/25/2018 07:49 An emergency meeting just finished at Maximus Mansion, the official residence of the Greek prime minister, to discuss the fires

An emergency meeting at Maximus Mansion finished a little after 4 in the afternoon under the direction of Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, where relief measures were decided upon for the affected areas.

According to a publication by the Athenian News Agency out of Maximus Mansion, the Regional Governor of Attica Rena Durou stressed that “in these dire times with respect to the memory of our fellow citizens, we not only have them in our thoughts, but are also proceeding with serious action and initiatives.”

Mrs. Durou added that “all us ministers, mayors, and service agents are proceeding seriously and with a sense of responsibility and duty.”

Asked whether we are talking about a different plan for the whole region, the regional governor replied affirmatively that “we have an obligation to not walk the same roads again and merely go through the motion of fires in the summer and floods in the winter.”

The Mayor of Marathon, Ilias Psinakis spoke about this unspeakable crisis, but insisted that it was in fact inevitable, as the flames reached the city very quickly and just as he smelled smoke in his own home, it was already on fire. Mr. Psinakis stressed that it is critical that missing people be located and the many victims be identified. Asked whether a mandate was given to evacuate the area, the mayor attempted to relinquish his responsibilities and responded that this order was given by the fire brigade, but he underlined that everything was carried out very quickly and the result was ultimately inevitable.

The Minister of State, Alekos Flambouraris, the Minister of the Interior, Panos Skourletis, the Minister of National Defense, Panos Kammenos, and the Minister of Infrastructure, Christos Spirtzis, the Deputy Ministers of Finance and Economy, George Houliarakis and Alexis Haritsis, the Regional Governor of Attica, Rena Durou, the mayors of the affected regions of Rafina – Pikermi, Megareon, and Marathon all attended the meeting at Maximus Mansion.

7/25/2018 07:45 Mr. Psinakis asks that the burned area in Mati not be redeveloped

The mayor of Marathon, Ilias Psinakis has allegedly requested that the burned regions within the boundaries of his city of Marathon not be redeveloped. According to the mayor, if the area is redeveloped, a significant number of houses burned and built in a legally uncertain “gray zone” can not be rebuilt in a legal manner. As Psinakis declared, the region had been transformed for many years into residential housing, never having been legally declassified as a forest region.