A team from the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.) visited areas of Evia on August 10, 2020, that had been affected by the devastating floods of August 9, as part of the operation of the Authority’s Response Team.
The H.S.G.M.E. team, consisting of Mr. Nikolaos Nikolaou, Head of the Directorate of General and Applied Geology (DIGEG), and Mr. Panagiotis Sambatakakis, Head of the Directorate of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy (DIPOGE), conducted on-site inspections to assess the urgent issues caused by the severe flooding and subsequent landslide phenomena.
During the mobilization of the H.S.G.M.E. Rapid Response Team, an on-site meeting took place with Mr. G. Kelaiditis, Deputy Regional Governor of Evia, Mr. G. Psathas, Mayor of Dirfys-Messapia, Mr. G. Tsapourniotis, Mayor of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna, and Mr. D. Vourdano, Deputy Regional Governor for Agricultural Development, Veterinary Services, and Environment. It was decided that special emphasis should be given to examining the landslides that affected the Municipality of Dirfys–Messapia. Additionally, telephone communication was established with Mr. A. Vaggelakos, Head of Transportation Projects, while during the on-site inspection, collaboration took place with Mr. I. Kotriklas, President of the Local Community of Kamaritsa, and Mr. Papadimitriou, President of the Local Community of Kontodespoti.
The documentation and assessment of the destructive phenomena focused, based on the available data, on the areas of the national road Psachna–Nerotrivia, the national road Politika–Kamaritsa, within the residential zone of the Kamaritsa Local Community, the national road Chalkida–Aidipsos, and the residential area of the Kontodespoti Local Community.
As part of the investigation, the specific geotechnical and engineering–geological conditions at each site of failure were examined, their locations recorded, and the level of hazard assessed in relation to the overall stability of the area. Immediate protection measures were also proposed. Furthermore, the mechanisms that triggered the flooding phenomena and their possible causes were analyzed.
