Greek Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas will remain in Athens on Saturday instead of travelling to Thessaloniki for the city's international trade fair, after authorities issued a very high wildfire risk warning across parts of the country.
The decision followed a call between Tournas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Tournas will instead work from the ministry and the Operations Centre, as the fire risk index reaches category 4 in several regions of Greece.
Tournas had originally been scheduled to travel to Thessaloniki for the opening of pavilions run by his ministry and the Fire Service at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, and to attend the prime minister's speech there. Given the updated fire risk assessment, officials decided he should stay in Athens to oversee operational coordination instead.
Red Code regions
Civil Protection placed Crete, the Cyclades, Chios, Psara and Ikaria under Red Code mobilisation, along with parts of the Attica and Evia regions.
Under the increased alert, the priority is heightened readiness and the rapid deployment of firefighting forces wherever they are needed. Civil Protection and the Fire Service have been placed on standby for what is expected to be a difficult Saturday.
Background
The Thessaloniki International Fair, known in Greece as the DEth, is the country's largest trade exhibition and is traditionally used by the sitting prime minister to unveil the government's economic policy for the coming year. It draws government ministers, business leaders and foreign delegations to the northern city each September.
Greece's Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is responsible for coordinating the country's response to natural disasters, including the wildfires that regularly threaten Greek regions during the hot, dry summer months. Its Operations Centre serves as the command point from which the ministry monitors and directs firefighting resources during emergencies.
