Residents of the small village of Valtonera, located in the northern Greek region of Florina, are living in constant fear as landslides continue to threaten their homes and safety. The crisis began in 2017 when a major landslide made the area dangerously unstable.

Since then, the village has experienced severe ground cracking, and authorities issued a recommendation for the gradual evacuation of the area. However, despite the warnings and the passage of nearly eight years, no concrete steps have been taken to relocate the residents.

In a recent interview, lawyer Ariadne Nouka expressed the frustration of the villagers, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention. “Since 2017, people have been told to leave, but nothing has been done. If the government doesn’t step in and provide compensation for relocation, how can they expect the residents to move?” she asked.

The situation took a more alarming turn two weeks ago when a large section of a fence—measuring 13 meters in length and 3 meters in height—collapsed in front of a school bus stop. Nouka pointed out the danger posed to children who often wait at that stop, adding, “If the children had been there at the time, what would we be saying today?”

The village’s school is no longer functioning, and the eight remaining students are transported to a nearby village for classes by taxi.

Many residents have already left the village, fearing for their safety. Others remain, but their anxiety continues to grow as the landslides threaten to swallow their homes. “We demand immediate expropriation and the removal of the red zone,” said one local. “There are six studies that support this request. We need help from the state.”

In a visit to the village, government representative Kostas Triantopoulos had made it clear that relocation would be delayed for many years, leaving the villagers in a state of uncertainty.