Water levels begin to recede in flooded regions of Greece

Athens, Sep 11 (EFE). – Water levels in the flooded regions of central Greece had begun to go down on Monday, a week after the storm “Daniel” swept through the area, leaving at least 15 dead and several missing.

The Greek fire service said that water levels were receding in the hardest-hit areas of Karditsa, Trikala, and Larissa, and a rescue operation for those trapped in the region had been completed.

The confirmed death toll from the flooding has risen to 15, after the body of a 42-year-old man – whose vehicle was swept away by a deluge on Sep. 5 – was found on Sunday in the Pagasetic Gulf.

A recently married Austrian couple on their honeymoon in the Magnesia region remained missing.

While the situation has improved a little, entire villages still remain submerged in mud, according to civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias, who described the damage caused by the storm to infrastructure as “enormous.”

The receding water from the flooded areas was now heading northwards to the Vale of Tempe, prompting authorities to remain on high alert to prevent fresh flooding in the region.

Authorities have raised concerns about the potential outbreak of infectious diseases due to stagnant water and the presence of thousands of carcasses of livestock that perished in the floods.

In Volos, the capital of Magnesia, approximately 150,000 residents have been without drinking water supply for seven consecutive days.

Thousands of people in the Pelion peninsula have also remained without access to potable water and electricity for several days.

Authorities reported they have rescued over 4,500 people since Tuesday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the storm as the “most extreme meteorological phenomenon in the country’s history” and said he would seek “maximum support from the European Union” to deal with the aftermath of this catastrophe.

The Greek government has announced aid packages of up to 16,000 euros for each house affected or destroyed by the storm.

Besides the damage to infrastructure, the catastrophe has had a significant impact on Greek agriculture, as the affected areas include the country’s largest agricultural plain. EFE

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