Funding of five million euros is set to be disbursed from the state budget to the Region of Central Macedonia and the municipalities of Oreokastro and Pavlos Melas, aimed at the rapid restoration of public infrastructure destroyed by the major fire that broke out on Saturday. At the same time, affected residents will receive immediate financial support through an initial emergency allowance, which will be granted as soon as the official damage assessment report is issued.
Read also: Thessaloniki: Municipalities of Pavlos Melas and Oreokastro declared state of emergency — “No one will be left behind without help,” Deputy Minister Katsafados assures (Images & Video)
The announcement was made by Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, immediately following a meeting held at the Oreokastro Town Hall. Deputy Minister Katsafados stated: “We held a joint meeting with the Region and both Mayors. We have established the procedures and timelines within which all these processes will be carried out.”
Regarding residents whose properties sustained damage, the Deputy Minister clarified that “the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Recovery is already conducting on-site inspections, and once the assessment report is issued, citizens will need to visit their municipality with a family status certificate along with their E1 and E9 tax forms in order to receive, as an initial step, household goods assistance and a basic needs allowance.”
Concerning businesses that suffered losses, he noted that “we have been in contact with the Region, which has confirmed it will immediately deploy inspection teams to carry out assessments, enabling us to provide funding to the affected businesses.”
“We have announced the decision we have taken: funding for businesses in relation to damages recorded in their assets will be set at 70% of the total assessed damage. We have also reached an agreement with both mayors and the Region regarding the restoration of infrastructure affected by the fires — the amount to be allocated will be €5 million,” Deputy Minister Katsafados confirmed.
A race against time to assess the damage: what the fire left behind in Oreokastro and Pavlos Melas
“We have a direct assurance from Deputy Minister Katsafados that all mechanisms have been activated for the restoration of all damages. The share being taken on by the central government is very significant. It is now up to us to set all procedures in motion, take the relevant decisions, and move forward as swiftly as possible,” said Oreokastro Mayor Pantelis Tsakiris, estimating that an initial damage assessment would be completed by the following day.
“The assurances we received from Mr. Katsafados regarding central government support for the affected areas are satisfying at this first stage. It is important to have the government’s backing at times like these — we went through a nightmarish ordeal from Saturday evening. The fire is still smoldering in the Filothei industrial area, residents are waiting, and we have been by their side from the very first moment,” said Pavlos Melas Mayor Dimitris Aslanidis.
According to an initial damage assessment in the Municipality of Pavlos Melas: In the Filothei settlement, damage was recorded to the main structure of 2 homes, fencing damage at 3 properties, damage to the outdoor areas of another 3 homes, total destruction of one 5-a-side football pitch, total destruction of 8 makeshift structures (wooden sheds used as storage spaces), damage to water boreholes, and disruption to the water supply network. In the Ekarpia Productive Activities Zone, the following was recorded: total destruction of 3 commercial premises, partial destruction of another 3 commercial premises, and partial damage to the outdoor areas of 5 commercial premises.
