Concern over European Emergency number after Halkidiki storm

There is concern that the European emergency number 112, may not be working following the powerful storm that lashed Halkidiki, killing seven and injuring more than a hundred people.

The powerful storms was the first real test for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government. On Thursday when a state of emergency was declared, Mitsotakis cancelled all his planned meetings so that he could be constantly updated on the situation.

During this time, Mitsotakis ordered the necessary action to ensure that the European emergency number is fully functional, as the Halkidiki storms demonstrated that the 112 hotline continues to be faulty.

According to sources, there appears to be two key problems: the system of automatic geolocation is not yet properly operational; neither is the function which sends out warnings by text message to the cellphones of people in danger.

The geolocation of those calling 112 can take up to 15 minutes under the current system. Authorities had pledged that by early this year the 112 hotline would be upgraded so that the geolocation will be immediate.

*Image source- Eurokinissi