Storm Daniel recovery and resilience in Greece

Three years after the devastation caused by Storm Daniel, local leaders in Thessaly are reflecting on the long-term impact of the disaster. Officials in Larissa and Farsala have emphasized the need for improved climate resilience, better drainage systems, and enhanced flood protection to safeguard infrastructure and agricultural production against increasingly extreme environmental patterns.

As recovery efforts progress, the Greek government has announced the completion of the first phase of priority restoration projects. Funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, these works target road and railway networks across Thessaly, Euboea, and Phthiotis.

Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas announced that the first priority (P1) group of projects is finished, with second priority (P2) projects already underway. The total investment for infrastructure repairs, covering both road and rail networks, exceeds 1.3 billion euros. Of the 997 identified road network repair points, 391 have been completed, while work continues on the remaining 606 points. The roadwork projects have a budget of 899.7 million euros, and railway projects total 450.12 million euros. Minister Dimas assured local leaders that the state remains committed to the region until all identified works are fully implemented, with some projects scheduled to continue through April 2029.

During a seminar in Tsagarada, local officials, including former President of the Regional Union of Municipalities of Thessaly Thanasis Nasiakopoulos, raised concerns regarding the necessity of additional flood prevention measures, such as embankments around the Thessaly plain, to protect residents from future extreme weather events.