Greece Responds to Evia Flood Disaster with Nine Relief Measures

Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis inspecting the flood damage in Evia. Photo source: @karamanlis_k

Greek authorities announced on Tuesday nine immediate relief actions for the residents of central Evia, which was devastated by thunderstorms and flash floods over the weekend leaving behind eight dead.

An emergency state has been declared for the Evia villages of Politika, Amfithea, and the area of Bourtzi.

The infrastructure, finance and interior ministries announced a series of measures which include support for flood-hit residents and businesses, as well as 240 million euros to go into the repair of the island’s road networks: namely the Amarynthos, Vassilika, and Halkida-Psachna bypasses.

Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras (right) spoke with locals in the areas that suffered enormous damage in Evia. Photo source: Central Greece Region

More specifically, actions which concern residents and business owners who suffered loss or damages due to the storms include the suspension of all tax obligations for six months; compensation and subsidies budgeted at 3 million euros for basic household appliances based on assessed cost; allocation of 1.2 million euros to the two municipalities that suffered infrastructure damage; farmer subsidies; financial assistance for impacted businesses; housing upgrade subsidies including flexibility for loans; suspension of all loan payments; and facilitating liquidity for municipal services hit by the flood.

Lastly, the finance ministry decision also foresees an immediate one-off 5,000-euro handout to impacted individuals (per home) and 8,000 euros for business owners, with an additional 600 euros for multi-member families, main home damages, and for people with disability.

Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis. Photo source: @karamanlis_k

Additionally, 700,000 euros will be allocated to the Halkideon Municipality for water supply system repairs and the restoration of the Vassilikos and Agios Nikolaos beaches and 500,000 for the Dirfys-Messapia Municipality for repairs to its water supply network and to Politika beach.

According to initial evaluation of the damage, more than 3,000 homes were destroyed by the floods.