Backfilling work is continuing at the recycling company, as toxic fumes are still being released. Residents of Filothei are keeping their windows closed throughout the day and have limited their movements to a minimum.
‘In the morning you open the windows and the smell comes in, you can’t breathe. It stinks,’ a local resident told ERT.
In the wider area, 76 firefighters remain on alert, with 16 vehicles and two foot patrol units.
Oreokastro mayor Pantelis Tsakiris said the issue of public health exceeds the municipality’s responsibilities and that official information is expected from the central government.
‘It is something that is beyond our competence. We are waiting for information from the central government. We cannot say something that is not true and you understand that in matters concerning public health we must be very careful in what we say. Therefore, we are waiting for information so that we can also give instructions to the residents of our area, so that we do not have unpleasant situations from the consequences of this entire destructive fire,’ he said.
For the municipality of Pavlos Melas, deputy mayor for cleanliness Panteleimon Adamoudis spoke of the difficult moments experienced by municipal officials, police officers and residents during the evacuation of the areas. He also noted that there is a serious problem with the water supply in the Filothei settlement.
A total of €5m will be allocated to municipalities to repair the damage, while those affected will be able to submit compensation applications from 8 July.
A PASOK delegation also visited the affected area today.
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