Yet another media spectacle took place at Kythira City Hall, this time in response to the fires that burned down approximately 10% of the island. The main figures were Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados and Mayor Stratos Charhalakis, who convened a meeting with local officials (without inviting the entire City Council or any of the island’s media outlets) to present support measures and promises that seem straight out of a campaign brochure — with the clear aim of managing public perception rather than addressing the crisis.

A Flurry of Announcements Against a Backdrop of Ash

The deputy minister announced:

Permanent firefighting helicopter starting in 2026.
Upgrade of the firefighting unit in service. (under discussion)
1 million euro voucher for tourism support through the “Kythira Pass.” (It should be noted that the damage to the island’s economy in the middle of the tourist season is estimated to be much greater, as business owners in the sector report a steady stream of cancellations.)
Extension of the airport's runway.
Flood control and erosion control projects with vague references.
Compensation Plan for Olive Growers and Beekeepers.
Compensation for damaged homes.
Legislation Regarding Unauthorized Alterations to Common Areas. (It raises questions and leaves one wondering what abuses the deputy minister was referring to and who committed them.).
Repair of the bridge Diakoftium
Creation military outpost in Antikythera.

For his part, Mayor Harchalakis called for an expansion of the firefighting fleet and an inspection of the HEDNO power lines, concluding his remarks with dramatic insinuations about his health and statements about «slanderers» (to whom he promised he would respond and take further action…;;;), as if he needed sympathy more than accountability.

In addition, the board of the Domestic Property Association publicly denounced the a complete lack of coordination among ground forces, with the Fire Department acting without a plan, while the mayor revealed that There wasn't a single tracked vehicle available by the municipality.

The «ifs» and «maybes» of a promise

Katsafados’s announcements were often accompanied by qualifiers such as «if…,» «when…,» and «provided that…»:

The helicopter will arrive «next year»—with no commitment for this year.
The water supply projects and studies will begin «once the calls for bids are issued.».
The «Kythira Pass» will be implemented starting April 2026, while cancellations in the tourism sector are already a regrettable reality, as mentioned above.

Not a word about immediate assistance to affected lodging and food service businesses, for prevention infrastructure, such as fire protection zones, while the reference to ELGA reads as follows: Compensation for burned olive trees will be paid after spring 2026. An ELGA spokesperson noted that the same procedure was followed after the 2017 fires.

The bottom line? Political management and shirking of responsibility

The deputy minister avoided any self-criticism regarding the operational failure, attributing the disaster to… the weather and the «heavy fire schedule for the day.» Of course, no one in the room mentioned the lack of aerial resources at the critical moment on Saturday at noon, when control was ultimately lost, resulting in the fire sweeping through Arei and Mylopotamos during those hours (Mr. George Kominos seems to have suffered from amnesia after his relevant statements on ERT and OPEN). No one explained whether There was a prevention plan in place for the same area, which had burned again in 2017. But no one asked—neither the opposition members present, nor any media outlet or other organization.

The meeting on July 31 was met with negative comments from our fellow citizens shortly after the reports appeared in the local media, while independent city council member Nikos Magoulas, who had not been invited, arrived at City Hall after the meeting had ended, where he protested vehemently to the deputy minister and others.

Unfortunately, the municipal government chose to put on a half-hearted show of disaster management, with the aim of avoiding accountability and buying off public tolerance through future vouchers and vague promises. The truth, however, is inescapable: Kythira is burning again and again—and no one has been held accountable. Let us also remember that the lawsuit filed by the mayor himself regarding the 2017 fire remains completely out of the public eye. What ultimately became of that case?;

And a reasonable question: Why was there no mention of the role of the Local Coordination Body, which, according to the law, is the body responsible for crisis management at the local level? Did it function? Who was involved, and how? A review of the minutes of its meetings might shed some light on this.