“The unprecedented heat conditions and extreme temperatures that are occurring in the country have increased the risk of fire and are making it difficult for the Fire Service and the authorities on the fire fronts that are raging in the areas of Rhodes, Corfu, Karysto and Aigio. According to the announcement of the Fire Department, yesterday Sunday, within 8 hours there were 64 new forest fires, i.e. 8 every hour” said the government representative Pavlos Marinakis in his introductory statement during the briefing for the political editors.

He reiterated that the government’s first priority is the protection of human life and, of course, the safeguarding of citizens’ properties, but also the protection of the natural environment. Regarding the fire in Rhodes, he said that 16 groups of pedestrian units, 266 firefighters, 55 water vehicles are operating in the area, while from the air, 10 helicopters (including 3 from Egypt), 10 aircraft (7 Greek, 1 Croatian and 2 Turkish).

“The entire mechanism remains alert as there is currently a resurgence in the area of ​​Asklepiion,” he stressed. He also said that settlements were evacuated as a precaution, as well as hotel units in the areas of Gennadi, Vati, Pylonas, Laerma, Lardos, Lindos, Kalathos Malona, ​​Asklipieio, Pefkos, Massari and Haraki.

The government representative underlined that 19,000 people, according to ELAS estimates, were transported to safe places, of which 16,000 by land means and 3,000 by boats.

“This is the largest evacuation operation in the country,” he said and added, “elderly people and people with disabilities were moved by ELAS official vehicles, while the majority of citizens and tourists were moved by tourist ships, coast guard boats and privately owned ships ordered by the Coast Guard.

Spaces were secured for the temporary accommodation of residents and visitors who were removed from their homes or accommodations, in hotels, conference centers, gyms, schools and public or municipal spaces. There was immediate care for the provision of food, water and monitoring by a doctor in the accommodation areas.

According to the data of the EKAV and the Health Ministry of the South Aegean, nine people with respiratory problems came to health facilities, who left immediately after being given first aid. A citizen who suffered a fracture during the evacuation of a hotel and a pregnant woman, who is in good condition in the maternity clinic.”

He also emphasized that the superhuman efforts of the firefighters, the security forces, the armed forces, as well as the contribution of the regional authority and the municipal authorities, together with the volunteers, contributed the most to the process of safe movement of citizens and visitors.

He also mentioned that a Help Desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was placed inside the airport of Rhodes. “The office will facilitate and coordinate, in cooperation with the relevant embassies, the timely departure of foreign visitors who have lost their travel documents. The flights were scheduled with the TUI and Jet2 companies that move the largest volume of passengers to Rhodes. These are repatriation flights, since all flights of both companies, which arrive on the island, will arrive empty in order to pick up passengers,” he said.

He underlined that from yesterday until 6:00 this morning, 1,489 people have left by plane, with destinations mainly in England, Germany and Italy. In addition, he stated that by decision of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, the staff of the Rhodes airport is being strengthened to better serve passengers and the Crisis Management Center is being activated.

“Traffic at Rhodes airport continues normally with some delays due to the refueling of the aircraft involved in the firefighting. At the same time, an operation to support the fire victims has begun, with 2,000 ranches and 500 sleeping bags received, while another 2,400 are expected today. On Saturday, a government echelon consisting of the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Yannis Bratakos, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triandopoulos and the Deputy Minister of Tourism Elena Rapti was in Rhodes. The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Yiannis Papas was already on the island. Yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogiannis, as well as the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Christos Staikouras, arrived,” he said, stressing that within the next 24 hours, the teams of engineers who will undertake the autopsies and experts in the fire-damaged buildings will go to the island, so that the damages can be assessed, in order to speed up the granting of compensations.

“All government efforts are focused on the safety of citizens and visitors and the protection of human life,” the government spokesman said.

Referring to the fire in Corfu, he said that it was limited to the villages of Santa and Megoula, however, as he underlined, there are two active fronts where the fire department continues to operate with ground forces and aerial means. “They are operating 4 aircraft, 3 helicopters, 50 firefighters, 3 groups of infantry departments with 17 vehicles and a Fire Brigade boat for the movement of citizens and extinguishing. Through 112, a message was sent to evacuate 17 settlements and around 2,500 citizens were safely evacuated. At the moment, no damage has been done to houses,” he said.

Regarding Karysto, he said that after the three outbreaks that occurred yesterday, the preventive evacuation of settlements has already been carried out through 112 to protect the residents. “Ground and air forces are operating in the area trying to control the fire. Since the evening, an earthworks fire protection zone has been opened towards Platanistos, however there is still an active front. Three aircraft and two helicopters are operating in the area,” he said.

For the Aegialia front, he said the fire does not threaten a settlement and strong ground forces, three helicopters and 4 aircraft are working on the fire.

“We are facing a new reality. It is the 12th day that there have simultaneously been more than 50 new outbreaks per day on average. This means that over 600 outbreaks have occurred during this time.

Once again and given that many areas of our country today are at the level of extreme fire risk (level 5), we ask citizens to avoid activities that may cause a fire and if they are in areas threatened by fire to follow the instructions of the authorities. Their safety is the primary concern of the state,” said Mr. Marinakis.

Regarding the causes of the fires, he said that these will be investigated exclusively by the competent authorities, especially regarding the possible contribution of the human factor. “If incendiary actions are proven, their perpetrators will be brought to justice and will be judged with the strictest penalties legislated by parliament with the amendment of the Criminal Code in 2021 proposed by the New Democracy government. The endangerment of the environment, property and above all human life is no longer “to be taken for granted”, he said, stressing that the authorities are doing their job and no one can replace their role.

In addition, he stated that the damage from the fires in Mandra, Megara, Saronida and Loutraki continues to be recorded, noting that 197 buildings have been damaged, while 50 houses and 2 businesses have been identified with red markings.

“13 measures of support for the areas affected by the fire were announced by the relevant Ministry. In addition to the aid that will be given by the state for the repair of damages and compensations, there is a suspension of payment of tax obligations, a suspension of enforcement actions, a three-year exemption from ENFIA, regulation and suspension of insurance contributions for businesses and suspension of employment contracts and the granting of a corresponding allowance, amounting to 534 euros, to the employees of the affected businesses,” said the government representative, emphasizing that the government and the prime minister will be on the side of those who lost their property in the fires and will continue to support our fellow citizens with emergency measures to repair the damage and restore them.

He also said that until the heat wave subsides, we should all be careful and follow the instructions of the authorities. “The circulars issued by the relevant ministries remain in force with the aim of protecting citizens,” he said.

With reference to the accident in Patras, he said that “on the specific part of the bridge, traffic was prohibited, and it was closed by decision of the Achaia Police Department, due to demolition work, for the reconstruction of the underpass. According to the company’s announcement, people without work were at the site yesterday and were injured, one of them fatally, due to the collapse of the bridge.”

He stated that members of the fire brigade, the IKAROS team and EMAK are operating at the scene, while the Deputy Minister of Transport Christina Alexopoulou, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Nikos Tachiaos and the Regional Governor of Western Greece Nektarios Farmakis were at the scene and added that the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure contacted the competent Prosecutor’s Office and a preliminary investigation is being conducted by the First Police Department of Patras.

He also said that ELAS proceeded to arrest the project manager, the site manager and two operators and that the case is in the hands of the Justice. Finally, he expressed the government’s sincere condolences to the victim’s family and its wishes for the recovery of the injured.

Referring to the bill for the vote of Greeks abroad, he emphasized “today, the day we celebrate the anniversary of the restoration of Democracy in our country, a chronic injustice faced by our fellow citizens abroad will be restored. We hope that all parties will show a spirit of unity and responsibility and support the bill so that we can all correct this unfair pending situation together. The government continues to unite Greeks, investing in strengthening national unity, not with words, but with actions.”

The main priority of the government, as the Prime Minister had said in his visit to the Ministry of Development, is to intensify controls on the market, especially when phenomena of unjustified profits are observed, with the aim of cracking down on accuracy, profiteering and protecting workers. We will not back down on this issue. Decisions are issued to be followed.”

He also mentioned that the passage of the bill of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance is expected on Wednesday. “This bill contains 50% of our pre-election program for the economy. It aims at the direct and indirect strengthening of the disposable income of all citizens and the transparency of the country’s finances with: Increases in the salary of civil servants after 14 years, with the average annual benefit per employee increasing to 2,084 euros gross or 1,476 euros net, the interventions to increase the tax-free, the reduction of taxes and income support, the interventions for young people with the youth pass and the program “My Home”, the measures to combat tax evasion, the costing of the pre-election programs of the parties.

The government’s goal is to improve the lives of citizens every day, their disposable income, to continue to reduce taxes and all this without derailing public finances. With specific, measurable and costed policies” he said. He also mentioned that tomorrow at 11:00 a meeting of the Council of Ministers will be held and the Prime Minister will visit the Ministry of Labor and Social Security tomorrow, Tuesday 25 July and on Thursday 27 July he will be at the Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports.