Deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of a mother in the midst of unprecedented flooding, the Municipality of Glyfada, which is declared in a state of emergency, spreads a shield over the affected area, sets up a mound on the mountain, starts the process of compensation and shields the city at an intensive pace, in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior and Civil Protection and the Region of Attica. “Whatever is broken we will fix it again and whatever needs to be done to avoid such situations in the future, you can be sure that we will do it,” stresses the Mayor of Glyfada George Papanikolaou, announcing that inspections will begin tomorrow.
Mr Papanikolaou’s statements are as follows:
“A life was unjustly lost yesterday in our city, amidst severe and unprecedented bad weather, and this plunges us into pain and sorrow. A woman, a mother of a child, was swept away by the rushing waters and passed away.
We express our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
The rainfall that occurred yesterday in Ano Glyfada was unprecedented both in volume and intensity.
In the area there are also old flood protection works – the drainage system on Metsovo Street, built in 2000 by the then Ministry of Environment and Public Works, and the additional network that was built a few years later on Antheon Street. There are also major flood protection interventions that we have made in recent years in Upper Glyfada. More are planned.
Without them – believe me – the situation would be far worse.
Even with these measures in place, unfortunately, it was not possible to contain the enormous volume of water and debris that descended last night.
This puts us before our responsibility to examine what must be done not only within the urban area but also higher up, on Mount Hymettus.
In cooperation with the experts, we will set up a mound on the mountain, we will make every technical intervention that is appropriate, we will do what is necessary and what is in our power to ensure that we never experience such events again.
As soon as the very heavy rainfall started, we first rushed to close Vouliagmenis Avenue for some time to pump water with our crews to protect the citizens. As soon as the debris came down, we rushed with project machinery to clear the streets in Ano Glyfada and we have not stopped for a minute since then.
We worked throughout the night to restore the functioning of our city. Traffic has now been fully restored everywhere.
The older residents of Glyfada know it well, the condition we all had to face last night was unprecedented.
What you hear “the whole mountain came down” has a metaphorical meaning, but it is not an exaggeration at all.
Our Municipality, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Protection and Climate Crisis, is declared a state of emergency.
Tomorrow at noon we will have a meeting with the Deputy Minister Kostas Katsafados for all the procedural matters.
It is an important decision that allows us to move faster and overcome heavy bureaucracy and administrative red tape.
We will make sure everything runs quickly and efficiently, while at the same time starting the process for compensation, in accordance with the law.
We are also undertaking to connect claimants with the Ministry of Civil Protection (for residences) and the Region of Attica (for businesses).We are also undertaking to connect claimants with the Ministry of Civil Protection (for residences) and the Region of Attica (for businesses).
Inspections will begin tomorrow.
Any beneficiary can submit a request using the following link: https://glyfada.gr/dilosi-katagrafis-zimion-apo-tis…/
At the same time, in consultation with the Ministry of Interior and the Deputy Minister Vassilis Spanakis, we expect extraordinary funding for the works and projects required in Ano Glyfada.
I have never hidden in the face of adversity, I have never backed down in the face of any obstacle. The same is true of our entire municipal administration.
Whatever is broken we will fix it again and whatever needs to be done to avoid such situations in the future, you can be sure that we will do it.”
