Armed Forces to help with removal of animal carcasses, minister says
The Armed Forces have been mobilized to assist in the effort to collect dead livestock in the areas affected by storm Daniel last week, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced Thursday.
Dendias said he asked the head of the Armed Forces “take an active role”, in consultation with the competent authorities, while observing all the necessary health protocols to avoid contamination.
Rural Development and Food Minister Lefteris Avgenakis said ministry crews had collected a total of 21,906 dead sheep and goats and 6,800 dead pigs by Wednesday morning. But much more needed to be done.
Avgenakis said he Greek Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA) said livestock farmers had reported 49,050 dead goats and sheep, 19,295 pigs, 4,186 cattle and 40,330 birds.
The dead animals of Thessaly are transported with special refrigerated trucks to certified incineration sites in the regions of Imathia and Arcadia.
The clean-up task in the Thessaly area comes as health officials warn of infectious diseases that are breaking out as a result of dead livestock scattered across devastated sections.
