Greece water infrastructure and flood management

Greece is managing significant water infrastructure and weather-related challenges. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is executing a 1.2 billion euro program consisting of 50 major hydraulic and irrigation projects, including the Myrtos Dam in Crete and the Asopos Dam in the Peloponnese, alongside flood protection in Attica and Thessaly.

Following severe flooding between October 1 and October 3, 2026, authorities have transitioned to intensive damage assessment and recovery. In Heraklion, Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos is organizing the recording of damages to municipal infrastructure and private property to facilitate compensation. Technical services are prioritizing the inspection of road and agricultural networks.

In the municipalities of Ierapetra and Mylopotamos, structural inspections are yielding specific safety classifications. In the Agios Ioannis community of Ierapetra, 18 buildings were classified as ‘green’ (safe) and two as ‘red’ (unsafe). In Mylopotamos, across Axou, Venio, and Zoniana, 57 buildings were deemed safe, one was marked ‘yellow’ (restricted access), and two were classified as ‘red’.

To support these recovery efforts, the Greek government has allocated 97.845 million euros to municipalities and regional authorities. This funding, part of the Special Program for Addressing and Recovering from Natural Disasters under the 2026-2030 National Development Program, was approved by Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasi and Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Konstantinos Katsafadou. The resources are intended for repairing damage and reinforcing critical infrastructure to enhance community resilience against future extreme weather.