International

PM AlexisTsipras’ visit to war-ravaged areas of Eastern Attica and his tweet drew a flood of harsh criticism and rage on Twitter.

“Unspeakable sorrow and infinite respect for all those who waged an uneven battle with the flames,” was the comment of PM Alexis Tsipras

Last Monday they were confronted with one of the worst tragedies in the post-junta era, and they acted as rulers made of stone, or rather “people made of marble”, as depicted by Andrzej Wajda, when he wanted to describe the harshness of the Warsaw regime in the first post-war years.

ND asked why was an order not issued for the immediate evacuation of Mati when, as the government now admits, there was enough time and the direction of the fire was predictable.

Four days after the tragic Attica wildfire, in a nationally televised address to his cabinet, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he assumes political responsibility for the disaster, and called upon his ministers to do the same.

An analysis of all the declarations of illegal buildings in Mati revealed that 52 percent of the properties declared had no building permit, while 93 percent of the buildings are outside the limits of the town plan.

The collection of essentials, such as medicines, began on 24 June, the day after the disaster, at local branches of New Democracy, both in Attica and nationwide.

It is not the disorganisation, the lack of co-ordination, and the inability to predict and protect that are to blame, according to the government, but rather the dread climate change, and society, which builds illegally, wherever and however it can.

Already, at the morgue at Schisto, the first stage of the identification process is underway. That is the collection of genetic material from the corpses, which will be matched with DNA samples provided by relatives.

The Greek Red Cross announcement underlines that, 'Whichever other bank account is linked with the Greek Red Cross bank account, either directly or indirectly, is false, and in all cases legal action will be taken.'

The measures taken or omitted before and during the disaster are at the centre of an investigation ordered by the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s office.

At a meeting at Rafina’s City Hall, Mayor Vangelis Bournous said that 25 percent of homes (about 1,500), including his own, were totally destroyed. Fifty percent of homes were partially destroyed, and 25 percent remain unscathed.

There were mistakes in planning, in coordinating, and in informing, and the result was tragic. Authorities had a duty to know that if the wildfire crossed Marathonos Avenue, the tragedy would be unavoidable.

'The morphology of the seashores was such that people could not leave. Panic was a very bad advisor. There were people who died in the sea from drowning,' Skourletis said.

Commission spokesperson Christian Spahr said that the budget of the former public order ministry – currently known as the civil protection ministry – remained fairly stable since 2010.

These winds had very many gusts, strong gusts that reached 120km per hour – which would be 12 on the Beaufort scale. Those gusts were momentary, but they did the damage and created conditions for an expansion of the fire,” Pleionis said.

Large queues formed between 9am and 12pm as parliament employees waited to donate blood.

Other countries also have extreme and unpredictable disasters. Yet, they are the exception and not the rule, as they are in Greece, where you cannot know what comes next.

Olympiacos FC is always ready to help our fellow human beings who are in need, and it has done so countless times, on orders from its leader, Vangelis Marinakis.

'We express our condolences to our friends the Greek people, and the deepest sorrow over the lost lives, and our support for all families who in this terrible tragedy lost relatives and friends,' Zaev said.