Rethymno inspections find 25 buildings severely damaged after major wildfire
Inspection teams from the General Directorate for the Restoration of Earthquake and Natural Disaster Damage (ΓΔΑΕΦΚ) completed 70 building re-inspections in the municipalities of Agios Vasileios and Amari, Rethymno, following a major wildfire that struck the area. Of those buildings, 25 were classified “red” due to severe structural damage, while another 14 were marked “yellow.”
The Rethymno inspections are part of a wider ΓΔΑΕΦΚ operation covering areas across Greece affected in recent weeks by wildfires and flooding, including recent wildfire activity elsewhere in Crete.
According to data from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, a total of 527 building re-inspections had been completed nationwide between the start of August and August 20. Of these, 191 buildings were classified “green,” 178 “yellow” and 158 “red.”
Situation in other affected areas
Most inspections nationwide have taken place in western Attica, following the destructive wildfire of July 31. In the municipalities of Mandra-Eidyllia and Megara, a total of 304 re-inspections were carried out, with ministry sources describing the situation there as particularly difficult. Of these, 101 buildings were rated “green,” 91 “yellow” and 112 “red.”
On Salamina, following an August 16 wildfire, 22 re-inspections were carried out: five buildings were classified “red,” 10 “yellow” and seven “green.”
In Achaia, in the municipalities of Aigialeia and Western Achaia, 19 re-inspections produced three “green” and 16 “yellow” ratings.
In Fokida, in the municipalities of Delphi and Doris, 17 re-inspections were completed, with one building rated “green,” 10 “yellow” and six “red.”
In the municipality of Thebes, Boeotia, 14 re-inspections found one “green,” six “yellow” and seven “red” buildings. A further 14 re-inspections were carried out in the municipality of Argos-Mykines, Argolida, where two buildings were rated “green,” 10 “yellow” and two “red.”
In Chalkidiki, in the municipality of Kassandra, the first phase of inspections was completed with nine re-checks, resulting in two “green” and seven “yellow” ratings.
Better picture in Laconia
The picture differs in Laconia, where inspections relate to flooding that struck the municipality of East Mani on August 15. ΓΔΑΕΦΚ teams carried out 58 re-inspections there, with ministry sources noting the situation appears better: 43 buildings were found habitable, while one was classified as due for demolition or dangerous.
Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection sources said the goal of the inspections is not only to record damage but to serve as the first step toward restoration and state assistance for affected residents. ΓΔΑΕΦΚ teams are tasked, after each natural disaster, with examining affected buildings, recording damage and carrying out technical assessments, so that restoration and support procedures for those affected can then be activated.
