Apokoronas fills a truck with aid for wildfire victims south of Rethymno

Summary

Following a major wildfire in the southern part of Rethymno, the municipality of Apokoronas launched a community-wide solidarity drive and filled an entire truck with food and essential goods for the affected families. Citizens, volunteers, cultural associations, sports clubs, the Charilaos Music Society and local businesses all contributed without hesitation. The supplies were delivered by Deputy Mayor Evangelos Piperakis and received by the Metropolitan Bishop Ioakim of Lampis, Syvritos and Sfakia for distribution to those in need.

Apokoronas sends truckload of aid to wildfire victims near Rethymno

When disaster strikes, a community's true character is revealed. On August 7, 2026, the municipality of Apokoronas in western Crete showed exactly what it is made of: a fully loaded truck carrying food and essential supplies set off for the families devastated by a major wildfire in the southern reaches of Rethymno.

A community that answered the call

The appeal launched by Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis exceeded all expectations. Within a short time, residents, families, Cretan diaspora members, volunteers, cultural associations, sports clubs, the Charilaos Music Society and local businesses came together to fill an entire truck. Beyond the practical goods — food, hygiene products and everyday essentials — Mayor Koukianakis stressed that the truck carried something even more important: love, humanity and the message that no one faces hard times alone.

Delivery coordinated through the Church

The supplies were personally handed over by Deputy Mayor Evangelos Piperakis, who is responsible for municipal services in Apokoronas. They were received by His Eminence Ioakim, Metropolitan Bishop of Lampis, Syvritos and Sfakia, who will oversee their distribution to fire-affected families in the region.

"Apokoronas has proved it has a big heart"

In his public statement, Mayor Koukianakis expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed. "In difficult moments, what counts is not what each person has, but what they are willing to give — and Apokoronas has proved it has a big heart," he said. He added that solidarity is not a one-off gesture but a way of life, and that the municipality will continue to stand by those in need.

Official source

"Apokoronas has proved that solidarity is not words, it is action" — Statement by the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis

7 August 2026, 7:15 AM

The response to our call exceeded every expectation. The people of Apokoronas proved, once again, that when a fellow human being is put to the test, solidarity becomes action.

All together — Cretan diaspora, the Music Society "Charilaos", citizens, entrepreneurs, volunteers, Cultural Associations, Sports Clubs — in a warm embrace, we filled a truck, not only with food and essential goods, but with love, humanity, hope and the message that no one is alone in difficult moments.

Today, the Deputy Mayor of Sanitation of the Municipality of Apokoronas, Evangelos Piperakis, delivered this precious assistance, which was received by His Most Reverend Metropolitan of Lampis, Syvritos and Sfakia, His Eminence Ioakim, so that it may be distributed to our fellow human beings who were struck by the great fire in the south of Rethymno.

I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart every citizen, every family, every business, every volunteer and all those who responded without a second thought. Your offering is the greatest proof that Crete never leaves its children without help.

In difficult moments, what counts is not what each person has, but what they are willing to offer — and Apokoronas has proved that it has a big heart.

We continue to stand beside the people who are being tested, because solidarity is a way of life.