Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared an end to unregulated construction at the conclusion of a meeting on the Attica fire tragedy held at the Technological and Cultural Park of Lavrio on Tuesday.
"The chaos of unchecked construction that threatens human lives is no longer acceptable," Tsipras said.
"Whatever harms forests and coasts, whatever threatens human lives, will be torn up. It is an obligation to those who died, but more than that, an obligation to the future generations.
“Attica experienced an inexpressible human tragedy. Greece has experienced a national tragedy. The mourning has been vivid the last fortnight in all our words and all our actions", Tsipras said, adding that nobody could avoid being overwhelmed by the grief for the loss of so many people.
Tsipras promised "an in-depth and comprehensive examination (of the causes of the loss of life) with unassailable processes and unimpeachable specialists".
Although there can be no return to the past to correct mistakes or a way to control extreme weather conditions, he said, the government must tear up past wrongs one by one.
The Greek PM criticised the lack of "tough decisions to deal with fundamental issues" of past governments, and said that "courageous but necessary political changes were never implemented."
Meanwhile, during an interview with ANT1 television on Tuesday, Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas stated the decisions for the demolition of illegal buildings in the area of the fire must be implemented and assured that the government "will solve the problem".
