PM Mitsotakis attends inauguration of Thessaly Civil Defence Operations Centre

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Larissa on Tuesday for the opening of the Thessaly Civil Defence Operations Centre and joined a meeting on the restoration measures following the disastrous floods from storms "Elias" and "Daniel" in 2023. The prime minister was accompanied by a team of ministers and received by Thessaly regional governor Dimitris Kouretas.

Mitsotakis was briefed by the governor regarding the operation of the centre and the fire protection mechanisms, as well as the control of the flow of Thessaly's rivers. At the meeting, the prime minister outlined the government initiatives to reinforce civil defence, noting that more than two billion euros were being spent for the purpose.

He highlighted the importance of technology, saying it allowed the development of models that made much more accurate forecasts, as well as the need for cooperation by the various agencies involved in fire protection and prevention.

"We have made very great progress in the country as a whole on cooperating better. The fire department, which has the primary role, with the forestry services, with municipalities, with regional authorities and the police. Under a unified coordination, we can deal with crises, always putting the protection of human life first," the prime minister said.