Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday remotely chaired a meeting on the urgent issues facing the flood-stricken areas in Thessaly, linked to protecting public health, removing floodwater, restoring access to villages, repairing the road network and providing state assistance. The meeting was held at the Operations Coordination Centre in Larisa.

Regarding public health, there was a briefing on the epidemiological monitoring of infectious diseases and the clinical picture of cases admitted to hospital, as well as further actions to inform citizens on practical hygiene issues and further measures to protect public health.

Particular emphasis has been placed on collecting dead animals, the meeting was told. According to figures presented by the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organisation (ELGA), 49,050 sheep, 19,295 pigs, 4,186 cattle and 40,330 fowl have been reported dead. Of these, 21,906 sheep, 6,800 pigs, 20 heads of cattle and 23,300 fowl have been disposed of (buried or incinerated).

An operation to remove flotsam and jetsam from the village of Palamas in Karditsa is to begin on Thursday, while the process of removing waste was reported to be generally progressing smoothly.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis and civil protection ministry's State Assistance service has carried out 4,500 inspections of damaged houses, with the number expected to exceed 5,000 by the end of the day. There have been 4,150 finalised applications for state assistance to the online platform and 2,900 temporary applications.

On restoring access, roadd to all villages except Keramidi in Farkadona have been reopened, while helicopters and fire brigade and army personnel are being used to transport supplies to mountain villages in Agrafa, Mouzaki and Kalambaka.

The fire brigade, army and volunteer organisations were still operating in the Giannoulis Labour Residences in Larisa, villages in Tempi, Kileler and around Lake Karla on Wednesday. The Athens-Thessaloniki national highway remained closed, though the water level had subsided.

Others at the meeting included, among others, Development Minister Kostas Skrekas, Rural Development and Foods Minister Lefteris Avgenakis, Minister of State Akis Skertsos, Alternate Foreign Minister Thodoris Livanios, Alternate Health Minister Irene Agapidaki, Deputy Minister to the prime minister Giannis Bratakos, Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos, Deputy Rural Development and Foods Minister Dionysis Stamenitis, Deputy Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas, Deputy Minister for Natural Disasters and State Assistance Christos Triantopoulos, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanassis Kontogeorgis and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.