A drive is set to begin to find homes for families that are still living in temporary accommodation in Athens after their homes were destroyed or damaged in a major earthquake in 1999.

The mayors of Menidi and Ano Liossia, where there are still many camps for earthquake victims, said yesterday that they want to demolish the sites. Many of the victims are still living in prefabricated structures.

Some 6,000 of these ready-made homes were set up after the earthquake and more than 3,500 are still being used. Many of the properties are now occupied without permission by migrants or Gypsies.

«We have decided to close seven of the eight settlements by the summer and the last one will go by the end of 2008,» said Ano Liossia Mayor Christos Pappous. The mayors are hoping that the state will help find permanent homes.