The Prime Minister says he can understand "anger and rage"but calls floods "big trouble"

“I can understand the anger and rage of the people,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Friday as he visited flood-stricken areas in central Greece.

“I understand the anger and the rage. I never hide, I’m always here in difficult times. We will support, we will support local authorities,” he said. “I want you to know that we will do everything we can.”

In his speeches, he called a natural disaster a “big blow,” as a result of which more than half a million hectares of land were flooded with water and mud, agriculture, livestock and houses were destroyed, the number of dead and missing is unknown, and hundreds of people are still waiting for rescue without food, water and medicine for at least 48 hours.

Arriving there in a Chinook helicopter with an entourage of about 30 people, the Prime Minister spoke to flood-affected locals and rescue workers at the Karditsa community hall where rescued citizens are arriving. He assured citizens and local mayors that he would do everything possible to help flood-affected residents and mobilize all available European resources to support those affected by severe weather conditions.

He announced that an inventory of damage to outbuildings and payment of compensation for destroyed houses would begin immediately, and that the restoration of infrastructure and networks would be a priority. “We will do whatever it takes. I will also mobilize all available European resources so that we can get additional support, first of all, to pay compensation to households,” he added.

Regional mayors spoke about the unprecedented phenomenon and outlined the priorities of each municipality, focusing on rescuing citizens, especially the most vulnerable, providing food, housing those left homeless, restoring electricity and water supplies, after which an inventory of damage and the need for rapid provision of compensation, as well as the restoration of infrastructure.

Greek media remind the Prime Minister that in 2020 he allocated 143 million euros to his friend from the company ΤΕΡΝΑ to create a stormwater system to protect Karditsa and the surrounding area from floods. The money was successfully spent.

The results, as they say, are obvious…

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