Corfu Environmental Protection Association: Investors nowhere to be seen when Erimitis fire was being fought

 

Statement from Corfu Environmental Protection Association:

Fire broke out in Agios Stefanos, Sinies on 16 August and spread completely by chance (??) towards the area in Erimitis to be built on. According to the Regional Fire Chief, fire broke out in five separate locations simultaneously - which in no way can be considered to be by chance.

Over the 30 years that local residents were responsible for taking care of Erimitis and clearing the paths there was never a fire. As soon as the company got jurisdiction fire broke out and the work of putting it out was made more difficult by the fact that the paths have not been cleared.

At the celebratory inauguration of the Kassiopi Project the Prime Minister said clearly that the forest will burn down. Shouldn't the responsible Regional Authorities have taken note of the warning and taken steps to prevent the destruction of the flora and fauna?

In the fight to put out the fire, along with the efficient work of the Fire Department, local bodies and residents also took part. The would-be investors, however, were nowhere to be seen.

We expect immediate action from the responsible authorities and the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the arson and immediate reforestation. We know that the recent Hadjidakis Law has abolished any kind of safeguard to protect the environment. However, this case demands a suspension of planning permission for at least 20 years in the fire-damaged area and for the matter of instigation and incitement of arsonists to be made clear.