Greece Extends Land Clearing Deadline

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has extended the deadline for clearing surplus vegetation from private land until June 15, citing the delayed rainfall and the need for enhanced fire prevention. This comes ahead of the official start of the fire season on May 1, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonian

During a visit to the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, Mitsotakis emphasized that land clearing has been proven to protect property and aid firefighting efforts. He noted a significant increase in firefighting capacity, with over 18,000 personnel, including both permanent and seasonal firefighters, up from 15,500 in 2022. The fire service’s vehicle fleet has grown to 3,700, and forest commando units (EMODE) now total 1,500+ members.

The government is also boosting prevention efforts through expanded drone surveillance, with drone bases rising from 45 to 80, and through the use of thermal imaging technology. Additional firefighting support from five European countries is expected again this year.

Mitsotakis called on citizens to take part in the collective effort to mitigate wildfires, stressing that preparation is critical as climate conditions become more extreme. He also highlighted ongoing upgrades through the "Aegis" program, aimed at modernizing civil protection infrastructure and equipment.