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Tsipras visits stricken areas, avoiding contacts with public

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the head of a governmen delegation, local government officials, and Fire Brigade officers visited the flood stricken areas i western Attica, yesterday, but diligently kept away from citizens, who in justified outrage may have vented their anger on him.

In the area of ​​the old Athens-Thebes national road, Mr. Tsipras was informed by the deputy regional chief of Attica Ioannis Vassiliou on the progress of works dealing with the consequences of the recent deadly floods.

Along with the prime minister were among others, the Regional Governor of Attica Rena Dourou, Interior Minister Panos Skourletis, Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas, local government officials, Fire Brigade chief Vasilis Kapelios and other government officials.

After Mandra, Mr. Tsipras went to downtown Elefsina and convened a meeting at the Regional building in Elefsina.

"We were primarily concerned with the operational aspect as we still have missing persons," Alexis Tsipras said shortly after the meeting.

"The effort of the fire brigade and the volunteers is moving," the prime minister said, and continued: "It is our commitment to proceed with immediate rehabilitation, healing of wounds and restoration of property. Whether it is for households or for businesses. I want to believe that through this coordinated effort by the local government, civil protection efforts will have the best possible results. For the people who lost family members, for all of us who are living through severe mourning, I think everything else comes second. Let me reiterate that we must be alert to address the problems that have accumulated for decades. "

The prime minister spoke of a "rare and extreme" phenomenon, but also of accumulated problems, over years, in infrastructure and land-use planning in the area. As he said, these problems exist not only in West Attica but also elsewhere.

"We need to be vigilant in rebuilding the necessary infrastructure to avoid such phenomena repeating," he noted.