Heraklion: At Least Four Houses Uninhabitable in Boutes Due to Cracks – Lekkas Calls for State of Emergency

An ongoing investigation is taking place today (April 28, 2025) into the two large cracks that formed in the Boutes village, causing significant concern among residents and authorities. Early this morning, experts arrived on-site to determine the nature of the phenomenon and its causes. Their goal is to create a 3D image of the area to implement necessary measures. Four houses with evident cracks were inspected and deemed uninhabitable by the President of the Seismic Design and Protection Organization, alongside Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos, Deputy Regional Governor Nicos Syrigonakis, Deputy Mayors Giorgos Sisamakis and Manolis Chairetis, Boutes President Haralambos Alogdianakis, and members of the Local Council along with engineers from the Municipal Technical Service. Further individual inspections will be conducted on these four houses by DAEFK engineers responsible for assessing their suitability. According to Euthymios Lekkas, the priority is citizen safety. Authorities also closed a children’s playground due to deep cracks appearing within it. Analysis will follow to clarify the causes, which are expected to be revealed today. Significant geological slopes, fractures along the Heraklion edges, and water infiltrating underground contribute to the process. Continuous monitoring of the phenomenon’s evolution and determining appropriate actions are crucial. The mayor emphasized safety as a top priority during inspections of schools and public buildings. Lekkas noted that the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection supports declaring a state of emergency for Boutes, with specific actions planned for the day, including aerial mapping via drones and detailed assessments of structural impacts and ground fissures.