Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas and National Guard Chief Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsinoris have publicly apologised to residents affected by the fire at the Kalo Chorio firing range. Officials also agreed on immediate measures covering safety, damage assessments and compensation.
An administrative inquiry into the cause of the fire is expected to be completed by the middle of next week.
Road map for compensation
Following a meeting at the Defence Ministry, Palmas said discussions with community leaders had been frank and constructive, covering longstanding problems arising from the operation of the firing range.
A road map of immediate measures was agreed to strengthen safety, record the damage and provide compensation. The Defence Ministry, rather than the Agriculture Ministry, will undertake the damage assessment, while possible compensatory measures for the wider area are also being examined.
Palmas said he would brief the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers on both the immediate decisions and longer-term concerns. These include the communities’ longstanding request for the firing range to be relocated, although he stressed that no decision had yet been made.
The minister said no conclusions would be drawn about the cause of the fire before the administrative inquiry is completed.
National Guard accepts responsibility
Lieutenant General Tsitsinoris also offered a sincere apology to residents, saying the National Guard would do everything humanly possible to prevent a similar incident.
He clarified that the incident concerned the National Guard, noting that the Defence Ministry could not, either institutionally or practically, be aware of every operational activity undertaken by the armed forces.
According to Tsitsinoris, the activity involved scheduled training for explosive ordnance disposal personnel, conducted in cooperation with an allied country and planned well in advance.
Whether the exercise should have proceeded on that particular day, and what caused the fire, will be determined by the administrative inquiry, he said.
Safety procedures to be reviewed
The National Guard will now review its standing orders and the restrictions governing live-fire exercises. Maintenance work will also be carried out to widen the firing range’s firebreaks.
Authorities will examine the installation of permanent surveillance, either through on-site personnel or cameras. Local communities will also receive detailed information before any future activity takes place at the firing range.
Tsitsinoris said some live-fire exercises and training activities remained operationally necessary to maintain the National Guard’s readiness. He added, however, that every incident must serve as a lesson and lead to stricter procedures and stronger safety measures.
