From 5 pm today, the traffic was put into operation new Athens-Thessaloniki national roadas pointed out a little while ago by the deputy representative of the Fire Department, Giannis Artopioos, during the emergency briefing from the Operations Coordination Center in Larissa.

Mr. Baker clarified that only the left traffic lane was opened and in the direction to Athens, but also in the direction to Thessaloniki and for vehicles up to 3.5 tons.

Vehicles over 3.5 tons are not allowed to circulate until the road surface conditions are fully restoredas Mr. Artophios pointed out, adding that Civil Protection vehicles, government vehicles of any category that provide service in the affected areas as well as vehicles over 3.5 tons used for the collection and transport of dead animals are excluded.

At the same time he emphasized that in the Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala triangle, all the main roads are open.

Then Mr. Artofioos underlined that the Operations Center of the Fire Brigade and Civil Protection has received more than 12,100 calls nationwide and has rescued 4,594 citizens to safe places.

More specifically, as the spokesperson of the Fire Department said, only in the Region of Thessaly there were 9,786 calls and 3,576 rescues and a total of 3,070 water pumpings from flooded areas.

The forces of the Fire Brigade and the Civil Protection until this moment are pumping out water, according to the requests of the citizens, underlined Mr. Artophios, while adding that at the same time all the forces of the Civil Protection are transporting food, water, medicines to the affected of the regions of Thessaly.

“We are and will remain by the side of our fellow citizens until the end of the operations” concluded Mr. Artophios.

According to announcement of the Ministry of Transport is lifted, tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, and from 6:00 a.m. the order to stop collecting tolls for vehicles up to 3.5 tons, on the Rio – Antirrio “Charilaos Trikoupis” Bridge, on the tolls of Egnatia Street between Thessaloniki and the intersection with Ionia Odos and along Ionia Odos (regardless of direction)

For vehicles over 3.5 tons, a 48-hour extension is set to the order not to collect tolls on the above roads.

In addition, a 48-hour extension is set, until 6:00 am. of Monday, September 18, in the order to stop collecting tolls on the E65 highway and the section of the Aegean highway from Nice to Maliako Gulf (including side tolls in the said area of ​​the Aegean highway).

It is noted that the concessionaires must keep a file with a detailed record of the crossings. The cost will be borne by the State, by virtue of the Concession Agreements, while a new update will follow if any extension of this extraordinary measure is required.