Five Years After Quake, Crete Schools Remain in Containers

Five years after a devastating earthquake struck Arkalohori, on the Greek island of Crete, residents say the town is still waiting for promised reconstruction, with damaged buildings and debris remaining in place and hundreds of students continuing to attend classes in containers.

A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Heraklion area of Crete. The earthquake’s epicenter was 5 kilometers from Arkalochori, where major damage was reported. A church collapsed, killing one worker. Monday, September 27, 2021 (STEFANOS RAPANIS/EUROKINISSI)

The local school building remains in the same condition as it was immediately after the earthquake, with debris still not removed. Residents say government promises of swift restoration have not been fulfilled, intensifying concerns in the community.

About 700 students are still attending classes in containers, which residents describe as unhealthy conditions. At the same time, many families continue to live in temporary housing units or buildings that have been classified as dangerous.

A view of the temporary camp for earthquake victims in Arkalochori, Heraklion, set up after the powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake.
Tuesday, September 29, 2021 (EUROKINISSI/STEFANOS RAPANIS)

Hundreds of buildings still awaiting demolition

Kostas Gkantatsios, president of the Arkalohori Earthquake Victims’ Association, said 400 buildings in the area have still not been demolished.

“We have 400 buildings that have not yet been demolished. We have 500 people living in temporary housing units, we have 260 property foreclosures over the past three years and 257 in the neighboring municipality, and we also have people living in yellow-designated and dangerous houses,” he said.

He said the condition of the schools was particularly concerning.

“Our school hurts us particularly. There are 700 students in containers, three school complexes,” he said.

Gkantatsios added that some studies have begun but said he did not know why the process was taking so long.

“We are supposedly in a state of emergency for three reasons: the earthquake, the water shortage and the floods of 2019,” he said.

Residents say the lack of an official government plan and fast-track procedures for reconstruction remains a central problem.

Students still learning in containers

Stelios Kanakis, vice president of the local Earthquake Victims’ Association, described the conditions as unacceptable.

“These are not normal conditions for children. They go to school in containers and feel inferior compared with children who attend school in buildings,” he said.

The association’s former president said an entire generation of children had spent their primary and middle-school years without attending a conventional school building.

“For five years now, the child who enters first grade will not experience elementary school and middle school normally. Only in boxes,” he said.

He pointed to a primary school operating in containers and said that nothing had been done to address the middle school, which is scheduled for demolition.

“No fast track. The elementary school with the containers is right down here. The middle school that is supposed to be demolished — nothing has happened, nothing,” he said.

Residents call for action

Residents say they are not asking for charity or special treatment, but for the state to fulfill what they consider basic obligations toward the affected community.

“We are not, consequently, beggars. We are not asking anyone for charity or pity. What we are asking for is the obvious: for the state to respond, at least for these two public buildings, the schools our children attend,” they said.