Exercise of readiness organised removal of visitors, due to an imminent risk from forest fire, called "MESSANA 2026", was held on Tuesday at the Archaeological Site of Ancient Messini.
In the context of the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Culture ministries and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, with a view to assessing the operational readiness of all the services and bodies involved and testing the effectiveness of existing protocols in the event of a threat to the archaeological site by fire.
The readiness exercise took place with the participation of Fire Department, the Greek Police, the National Centre for Direct Assistance, the Institute of Antiquities Messinia and the Municipality of Messini, highlighting in practice the importance of cooperation and coordination of stakeholders in the event of emergency or natural disaster. Particular emphasis was placed on the safe and immediate removal of visitors to the designated safety points, the protection of cultural infrastructure and the effective use of available means and human resources.
The Minister for Culture Lena Mendoni He said: "The protection of our lives and cultural heritage, against the threats of the climate crisis, is an unnegotiable priority for the Ministry of Culture. The exercise "MESSANA 2026" confirms in practice the exceptional importance of the Memorandum of Cooperation we have concluded with the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, since 2021. Effective treatment of extreme phenomena, such as a forest fire, requires not only modern technological instruments, but mainly sound coordination, operational readiness and absolute commitment to existing safety protocols. I warmly thank all the officials and bodies involved in the exercise. The shielding of our archaeological sites is a constant, collective effort. Through synergy and prevention, we build a powerful mechanism of resilience to protect our citizens and monuments."
The Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas He stated: "The exercise “MESANA” in the Archaeological Site of Ancient Messini comes to confirm in practice the importance of prevention and operational readiness towards the risks posed by the climate crisis. Organized removal of visitors from cultural heritage sites requires clear plans, joint business perception and direct cooperation of all relevant services. We continue to invest in prevention, training and field exercises so that the Civil Protection Mechanism is ready to respond effectively to any emergency. Protection of human life is an absolute priority and requires constant preparation, coordination and cooperation of all stakeholders."