Emergency measures to deal with and prevent fires announced the Minister of Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, after the extraordinary inter-ministerial meeting with the Ministers of State, Environment, Civil Protection and Shipping, the heads of the Fire Brigade, the Armed Forces, the EL.AS. and the Coast Guard as well as the Commander of the EYP.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State, Akis Skertsos, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, the Minister of Citizen Protection, Yiannis Oikonomou, the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Theodoris Livanios, the Deputy Minister in addition to the Prime Ministers , Thanasis Kontogeorgis, the Deputy Ministers of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas and Christos Triandopoulos, the General Secretary of Forestry, Efstathios Stathopoulos, the General Secretary of Civil Protection, Vassilis Papageorgiou, the General Director of Forestry, Vangelis Goudoufas, the Chief of Forestry, General K Constantine Floros , the Chief of the Greek Police, Lt. Gen. Lazaros Mavropoulos, the Chief of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis, the Chief of the Fire Brigade, Lieutenant General Georgios Pournaras and the Commander of the E.S.KE.DI.K. , Major General Georgios Vagias. It is noted that the Governor of EYP, Themistoklis Demiris, also participated in the meeting.

The following is the statement of the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilia:

“The last 48 hours, as unfortunately the next 48 hours, are proving to be extremely critical with gusty winds and high temperatures creating widespread fire fronts as outbreaks cannot be easily brought under control.

As of midnight yesterday, 53 forest fires broke out and 14 different outbreaks in Evros alone.

The situation in Alexandroupolis and Dadia, as well as the large fires that occurred simultaneously in Evia, Kavala, Boeotia, Komotini, are very difficult.

Therefore, an extraordinary inter-ministerial meeting was held with the fellow ministers of State, Environment, Citizen Protection and Shipping, the heads of the Fire Brigade, the Armed Forces, ELAS, and the Coast Guard, as well as the Commander of the EYP.»

It was decided:

First, a ban on access to mountainous areas and peri-urban forests with the assistance of the Greek Police, in Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Kavala and Thessaloniki, at least until Wednesday at 8 am.

Secondly, an increase and presence of armed forces patrols in all the above areas and in areas of high risk of fire.

Third, a ban on any activity by citizens outdoors that could cause a fire hazard.

Fourth, strict implementation of the 112 evacuation instructions, as the risk of entrapment and consequent loss of life is very high.

And fifthly, if deemed necessary, we will utilize every possible means, in order to strengthen the effort made by all the forces involved, operationally.