As the Public Works Ministry launched a hot line for motorists to complain about potholes on the poorly maintained roads for which Greece is notorious, on Crete yesterday — between the villages of Roukani and Profitis Ilias, some 25 kilometers south of Iraklion — yet another road collapsed due to ground subsidence caused by heavy rains.

A new government hot line set up to field complaints regarding potholed and poorly maintained roads attracted hundreds of irate callers yesterday, the first day of its operation.

Over 800 people had phoned the Public Works Ministry on the 1521 hot line by yesterday afternoon, mostly to complain about roads in Athens.

The city center’s network topped the list, followed by Galatsi, Zografou and Kifissia. Marathonos, Lavriou and Markopoulou avenues in eastern Attica were also frequently mentioned, as were the national roads from Athens to Patras and Lamia.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Works Minister Yiannis Tsaklidis promised that ministry officials would carry out repairs within four days of receiving a complaint concerning roads that come under its own jurisdiction, and would “immediately” notify local authorities when they were responsible for addressing the problem.

The 1521 line is active between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.