The heavy rainfall that occurred in recent days across Epirus and Aetolia-Acarnania resulted in several landslides. The intervention of the HSGME — specifically the Directorate of General and Applied Geology (DIGEG) and the Regional Unit of Epirus (PMI) — was immediate, aiming to minimize the damage caused.
In particular, on January 26 and 27, 2021, field inspections were carried out by the geologists of the Regional Unit of Epirus of the HSGME, Evangelos Nikolaou and Panagiotis Paschos, at the landslide site in the Local Community of Nikopolis, next to the main water supply tank of Preveza. After a thorough examination of the phenomena, the HSGME geologists provided guidance on the necessary actions to Mayor of Preveza Nikolaos Georgakos and Deputy Mayor Konstantinos Akrivis, to prevent the situation from worsening.
According to the HSGME team, the phenomenon is ongoing, and the situation remains critical for the safety of the main water supply pipeline. Following the municipality’s intervention, stormwater runoff that had been flowing toward the landslide area was redirected to prevent further deterioration.
It is noted that, in a letter dated January 28, 2021, the President and the General Director of DEYAP, Fotios Zervas and Konstantinos Papoutsis respectively — which was also addressed to the Regional Unit of Epirus of the HSGME — reported that the landslide had reached the perimeter fence of the building housing the city’s main water reservoir. They expressed their concern regarding the stability of both the building’s foundation and the reservoir itself.
The following day, on January 28, 2021, an inspection was carried out in the Local Communities of Galatas and Papadates in the Municipality of Ziros, where landslides had occurred along the local road network, cutting off access to certain residences and livestock facilities. The HSGME team provided recommendations for restoring the damage to Deputy Mayors of Ziros, Vasileios Zavalis and Zikos Rempis.
Another landslide incident managed by HSGME geologists took place in the Local Community of Dafnoti in the Municipality of Arta. Following a request by the Deputy Regional Governor of the Regional Unit of Arta, Vasileios Psathas, an HSGME team composed of E. Nikolaou and P. Paschos conducted an on-site inspection, accompanied by the President of the Local Community of Dafnoti, Georgios Paidaros. The landslide occurred on the western bank of the Arachthos River, approximately 100 meters from the eastern boundary of the Dafnoti settlement.
The phenomenon remains active and requires continuous monitoring to assess its level of risk. For this reason, the Regional Unit of Epirus maintains ongoing communication with the President of the Local Community of Dafnoti and the Regional Unit of Arta.
