After the devastating fire, the independent councillor Nikos Magoulas makes a dramatic appeal for accountability, organized civil protection and restoration of Milopotamos. Below is his statement:
Now that the smoke has cleared... It's time to speak the truth.
The fire has arrived. And it burned everything. Once again. And now that there is no more flame - there is only ashes.
Now that there is no point in evacuation, no point in reassurances - it is time for accountability.
The next day is not coming. It came - and passed. And it found us counting wounds. Living the shock. Feeling the rage.
Because this disaster was not «fate» - it was a result neglect, indifference and mismanagement.
Mylopotamos and the wider area - Araeoi, Lazarianika, Lachnos, Meridia - were left at the mercy of the flames.
The evacuation to Limniona was tragic choice - fortunately we didn't pay for that. We drove people towards the smoke, to a spot with no jetty, no infrastructure for safe removal.
The absence of a plan was criminal. The inhabitants were abandoned. The area was cordoned off and left to burn.
The next day, the fire went towards Drymona - and went out.
The day after that to Viaradika and Mitata - and there they caught up with her.
On the first day, in Mylopotamos, why not?;
Who decides which village is saved and which is left to the flames?;
Who is responsible for the inaction?;
Mylopotamos and Mertydia - two of the jewels of the island - two of the main tourist destinations of our country - are now ashes.
In Mylopotamos - First they took the water.
Then the ravine dried up. They said it was the drought.
In 2017 the ravine had another breath of fresh air. And then the fire overtook it.
Now there was nothing to stop her.
It's all burned. The crops, the houses, the school, the Community archive.
Memories, history, the labours of generations. Ashes.
And yet - the fire could have been contained.
If there was a plan. If there was civil protection of substance - not just on paper.
I do not intend to be silent.
We must not remain silent.
There are responsibilities. And they must be attributed - publicly, clearly, without evasion.
REQUEST:
- Direct activation one a real and functioning Civil Protection Coordination Body in the Municipality of Kythera - with a plan, training and a substantial presence.
- Substantial support for the affected people - not just benefits, but comprehensive care, rehabilitation and a return to everyday life.
- Change in the crisis management model. No more sloppiness. No more indifference.
COMMIT:
We must not dwell on words.
We will organize ourselves. We're gonna clean up the burnt-out valleys. We'll set up small dams, protect what was saved. We'll build the pens and the old trails. We'll revive the water mills. We will plant and cultivate again.
We will rebuild - literally and morally.
And when the time comes to hand this place over to future generations, I want us to be able to say with our heads held high:
«We tried. We didn't give up. We corrected our mistakes.»
And yes, we should apologize.
Not just because something was lost in 2025, but because once we were indifferent - and that cost us, but we learned.
Magoulas Nikolaos
MYLOPOTAMITIS and Independent Municipal Councillor of Kythera
Niko I agree with you. I'm A.C. from the CBE.
But at some point we have to turn around and do our own self-criticism, taking our share of responsibility.
This responsibility does not end with our vote in either the parliamentary or regional elections. If we continue to entrust our fate to sold-out and corrupt politicians and local leaders, we are doomed. We must demand, organise and participate in order to provide solutions to such a troubled place.
It was called a paradise by a neighbor, and not to brag, it could have been, if the people who remained to serve it had recognized its value.
What happened to the pure horticultural productions , which once smelled like perfume?
Where did the production of cheeses preserved in oil go?
Where did the honey go that was pure and unadulterated and smelled of thyme?
Where were the prairie plants that fed families and soybeans in hard days abandoned?
Everything was sacrificed in the name of quick profit, the tourism industry, fake subsidies. Result? The abandonment of nature, the alienation of man, idiocy...
I was young and old and tired of hearing about the Inside and Outside Municipalities dimension. There is one municipality and it is called Kythera and it is still good...If we don't change the mentality, if we don't get together, if we don't get organized, the place has no future. And to use the characterization of our neighbor, who is crying for his paradise that is lost, I want to say that our paradise, we create it each one alone, but also together, because only love and the blood that flows in our veins should unite us.
We must also put into practice the words of the great N. Kazantzakis: “TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. If you say that I am alone, I have a duty to save the Earth.
There are also some small villages on this island that were left to their fate from day one. They are called Perleganika and Durianika. People with families live there too. These villages are like they're not on the map of the island, like they don't exist. And if the volunteer residents along with 2 firefighters did not leave their souls in these villages then the fire would have ”traveled” Logothetianika, Potamos and so on. I wonder when these villages will be on the map? They may not have many voters but they too have a soul and needs. We will be surprised if Mr Katsafados visits them tomorrow and we will be even more surprised if anything happens after his visit. May we be surprised....
I have a question that probably no one will be able to answer: What happened to the 180k of “emergency” money after the 2017 fire? Well, the 69 was taken by Lekas for... studies. Another 35 or so went for “hospitality” for the firefighters (food and lodging... he says). Yeah yeah, that's how much it cost us to help the “superhuman” forces back then, even though it wasn't supposed to be paid for by the “emergency”. Never mind, let's see invoices....take the scalpel away! But that, you will tell me, would be the case in any part of the country experiencing a similar situation. So the rapist is not a privilege of the Kythera, but a Greek privilege!
If we subtract 105 from 180, that still leaves 75 grand. Did something happen and we don't know about it or is it forgotten in the City's treasury?;
And as if the head of the opposition of the municipality of Kythera does not know, he recently asked the Mayor for a new emergency!
Well, haven't we learned anything in all these years? Are we going to get politicians, politicians and power brokers again?;
The names may change, but they will always be thieves, liars and hypocrites.
Friend Nico, I hope we don't see you in line to shake hands with the congressman rescuer of the fainting man.
As for the commitment, don't make it if you can't keep it (for example in my village of Karavas).
The rest is up for discussion.
Where are the firebreaks, the clearing of dry grass, trees & branches? There are none & although much of the island has burned & summer is still ahead, the rest of the island will still be left uncleared. If it catches fire again then they will run around like panicked chickens again & scream that it's their fault that they've been blamed for the mess they caused while they took no action & took no responsibility for the mess they caused. & Instead of saying thank you that the pilots risked their lives with their wrecked planes & too much wind to put out the fires, which the people here let escape with their incompetence, they screamed & from above that there were no air resources as if only Kythera was burning & there were no fires elsewhere. Keep voting & supporting the incompetent/incompetent, well this will go well.
If I were in Chirigo, I would organize a protest at the arrival of the “rescue” minister. Today, I want to see you. Crying is not enough over the literally lost land and will do nothing to help regenerate it.