During a meeting at the Kythera Town Hall, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Costas Katsafados presented a package of measures for the next day after the great fire of July.
As the Tsirigo FM, on the prevention side, it was announced that from 2026 a firefighting helicopter will be permanently stationed on the island, while the upgrading of the Fire Brigade is also under consideration.
In the area of aid, the «Kythira Pass» programme is being promoted with a €1 million subsidy for the 2026 tourist season through vouchers for visitors, as well as compensation for damaged properties, olive groves and vineyards.
Finally, flood protection works, the rehabilitation of the Diakofti bridge, road works and the extension of the airport runway are under consideration.
The most important measures announced are:
At the level of prevention:
1) From the fire season of 2026, there will be a permanent installation of a firefighting helicopter at Kythera airport, which will reduce the intervention time and eliminate the need to leave the area for refueling.
2) The movement of the EMODE (Special Forestry Operations Unit) team to Kythera will continue as this year, when the risk index in our region is at level 4.
3) There is discussion and intention to upgrade the Kythera Fire Brigade to a Fire Service which will bring about further strengthening.
At the level of tourism and aid:
1) It was decided by the government to create the KYTHIRA PASS. This is a government funding that will reach 1,000,000 euros in the case of Kythera, and will be given for the tourist season from April to the end of September 2026, in the form of a voucher, to visitors of Kythera to spend it during their stay in shops and accommodations of Kythera.
2) In the next few days the procedure for filing applications for compensation for buildings damaged in the recent fire will run immediately and owners can contact the Municipality of Kythera for the procedure
3) There will be an inventory, which will take place in early 2026, of the olives and vineyards that were burnt and compensation will be given to the affected people.
At the level of infrastructure:
1) Experts will immediately go to the island for the assessment and construction of anti-flooding and anti-seepage works in cooperation with the Region of Attica.
2) Next Monday the Director General of Forests will visit the island to record the situation and studies will follow for the fastest possible restoration of the natural environment in the affected areas.
3) It was decided to give a definitive solution for the legalization of outdoor areas in order to solve a chronic problem that created fines and fines and did not allow interventions.
4) There is a strong will from the Prime Minister and an order has been given to proceed with the procedures and to check all possibilities in order to proceed with the extension of the runway at Kythera airport regardless of whether it is granted or not.
5) There will be municipal road funding for infrastructure improvements.
6) The repair of the bridge in Diakofti, a project of 1.000.000 euro, will be financed.
The Deputy Minister also announced the creation of a military outpost in Antikythera.
Finally, the Deputy Minister thanked all those who contributed and helped to extinguish the fire.
The report of ChirigoFM in the following link:
https://tsirigofm.blogspot.com/2025/07/2026-kythira-pass.html
