Flood Rescues in Greece: Over 800 People Saved as Severe Storms Devastate Streets

The fire department has reported that over the past two days, more than 800 individuals have been rescued from floods in Greece.

Severe storms caused the streets to turn into raging torrents, leading to cars being thrown into the sea and roads being washed away.

The heavy rain and flooding have also affected neighboring countries Bulgaria and Turkey, resulting in a total of 14 deaths across the three nations, including three in Greece. In response, the fire department, along with the army, is utilizing swift water rescue specialists and divers to reach remote areas and provide assistance, despite the damage to roads.

These floods come after devastating wildfires that destroyed large areas of forest and farmland, as well as homes, and claimed the lives of more than 20 people. The flooding, concentrated mainly in the central towns of Karditsa, has led to reports of people seeking refuge on the roofs of their homes as water levels rise. More rain is expected later in the day.

In certain areas, the floodwaters have reached depths of more than 6 feet (2 meters), making access and rescue operations challenging. However, a combination of tracked vehicles and boats are being used for evacuation efforts, although some areas remain inaccessible due to debris and the strong currents.

Helicopters have been unable to fly due to frequent lightning, further hindering rescue operations. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has revealed that some regions experienced more than double the average annual rainfall of Athens within just 12 hours, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias cut short a trip to Dubai and was returning to Greece “to oversee the greatest contribution of the armed forces in dealing with the consequences of the severe weather”, he announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis postponed his annual state of the economy speech and a news conference scheduled for the weekend in the northern city of Thessaloniki in order to visit the flooded areas.

Police have banned traffic from three regions, including on the island of Skiathos, and have sent numerous emergency phone alerts to people in several parts of the country urging them to avoid venturing outdoors and to move away from basement and ground floor areas of buildings.

On Wednesday, repeated rainstorms also hit the Greek capital, flooding streets and turning part of a major avenue in the city centre into a river of mud that swept people off their feet.