Inspections are being conducted at an intensive pace across the areas affected by the wildfires in order to complete the damage assessment as quickly as possible and activate all state aid measures without delay. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced immediate support for those affected in a Sunday post, while Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, announced that inspections in the affected areas are beginning immediately, carried out by staff from the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Recovery. The aim is to record damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure, with the stated goal of helping those affected return to normality as swiftly as possible.
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Wildfires: 100% compensation for fire-damaged homes and businesses
Specifically, homes that have sustained damage are eligible for a state grant covering repair or reconstruction costs, now set at 100% — applicable to both primary and secondary residences. In addition, emergency allowances are available to cover household contents and basic living needs, which can reach up to €6,000 depending on the extent of the damage. In cases where a building is deemed temporarily unfit for use, residents will be eligible for a rental subsidy of up to €500 per month, depending on the size of the household.
Speaking on ERTnews, the Deputy Minister noted that the first phase of inspections in the fire-affected areas is expected to be completed within the coming days. He also referred to the digitization of the compensation process, stating that following the passage of the relevant legislation at the end of August, citizens will be able to submit their applications online, upload the required supporting documents, and track the progress of their claims through a dedicated digital platform. “Within one month, once the inspection has been completed, fire victims will be entitled to submit a claim, and the compensation they receive for repairs or reconstruction will reach 100% — for both primary residences and holiday homes,” he said. The government has also announced equivalent support for affected businesses. As the Deputy Minister clarified, a corresponding support framework will be put in place, under which damage to building infrastructure will be treated in the same way as residential properties, while equipment and machinery will be eligible for a subsidy covering 70% of the incurred damage. Measures are also being considered for the agricultural sector, as many of the affected areas are agro-forestry zones. The Deputy Minister noted that ELGA (the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organization) will undertake the recording and compensation of damage to plant capital, while compensation for livestock farmers who lost animals and assets will also be examined.
All affected municipalities have been formally notified about the institutional framework of the General Directorate for Natural Disaster Recovery (GDNDR), which governs the provision of immediate financial assistance — including the basic needs allowance and the household contents replacement allowance. It has also been decided that, alongside the inspection report handed to affected residents by GDNDR field teams, a concise informational leaflet will be distributed, containing all relevant details regarding available financial assistance, eligibility criteria, and the application process. As inspections get underway, the GDNDR will provide direct support to the hardest-hit municipalities by deploying specialized personnel to assist with the organization and implementation of the immediate financial assistance process. Regarding financial support for natural disaster victims, following the occurrence of such events, teams of engineers from the GDNDR carry out post-disaster structural assessments of buildings in the affected areas in order to identify hazardous structures, evaluate whether buildings have sustained damage rendering them unfit for use, and determine the full extent of the damage.
