Vasilis Kikilias

Crete launched an earthquake protection exercise to identify and address potential errors, omissions and deficiencies in any response to an emergency.

Named "Minoas," it has been touted as the largest-scale seismic protection drill in Greece.

A 77-year-old has been arrested for the fire that broke out Monday morning in Markopoulo, eastern Attica.

The man was apprehended by investigators of the Markopoulo Fire Department, held responsible for igniting flames in crop residues on his own plot of land. He received a 500 euro fine as per regulations and will face prosecution. 

A broad meeting was held on Monday at the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, chaired by the minister, Vassilis Kikilias, to address ways of coping with extreme weather. 

Vassilis Kikilias, minister of climate crisis and civil protection, informed road operators on Wednesday that the government will close highways if necessary due to extreme weather conditions.

The death toll from storm Daniel that began battering central Greece on Monday rose to 10 on Friday while four people were still missing, according to Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

Ten people have died so far because of the storm 'Daniel' in central Greece, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Friday, while another four are still missing in Volos and Mt. Pilio.

The heavy rainfall caused by Storm Daniel is expected to increase once again in the early hours of Wednesday morning before abating from noon, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias has warned, citing meteorologists' forecasts.

Kikilias appealed to residents in Magnesia to avoid all travel and follow the instructions of the authorities while the storm persists.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will chair a meeting on Tuesday morning to assess the scale of the destruction by the hundreds of wildfires that have ravaged Greece and discuss the restoration of forests, mainly in the northeastern region of Evros and Mount Parnitha in Attica, the areas that suffered the worst.

During an interview with newspaper To Vima on Sunday, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias discussed the forthcoming priorities to enhance Civil Protection.

Kikilias emphasized that their foremost concern is recruiting over 500 new firefighters to provide substantial support during wildfires. 

A lack of timely planning, the retirement of experienced officers and failure to implement crucial provisions of a three-year-old law, contributed, along with the adverse climatic conditions, to significant losses of forested land, estimated at over 40,000 hectares, some officials acknowledge privately.