OPINION

Extreme measures?

Thursday’s «extreme» weather conditions really were just that – hence the spectacle of car hoods, roofs and windows perforated by relentless showers of hailstones, which, according to some reports, were the size of small watermelons! It was also unusual in that it transformed even the «good» roads, which generally benefit from adequate drainage, into veritable canals. But the National Meteorological Service had warned about the coming bad weather days before; all the «emergency measures» had been taken and teams of rescue workers were on standby. And those responsible for averting the worst had three previous disasters – which had occurred within the space of four months and affected the same areas – to learn from. However, despite the warnings and the timely mobilization of rescue teams, we had the same problems yesterday as before, albeit on a smaller scale. But this is cold comfort for the residents of Moschato and other riverside districts who had their homes flooded once again. Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou was, justifiably, erupting with rage before the television cameras – a rage that was real and not a PR stunt! – when she arrived at the scene of the worst-hit areas and demanded an explanation from mechanics and others as to why they hadn’t been able to avert Thursday’s floods. But then again, the same minister reacted in a similar way the last time, after pledging, yet again, that such a disaster wouldn’t recur.

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