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So far, more than a dozen people have lost their lives in storm “Daniel”. An overview.
What is the situation in the affected areas? In central Greece the situation remains dramatic. The great plain in the region of Thessaly is under water. The infrastructure has been badly hit: In numerous villages and large parts of the cities of Volos, Larisa and Karditsa there is no electricity and no water, as reported by reporters.
In addition, the country’s most important motorway connection between Athens and Thessaloniki has been closed for a good 200 kilometers since late Wednesday evening. According to Greek media, the railways also stopped running trains between the two cities.
Legend:
In the village of Ano Meria near Volos in central Greece, torrential rain has destroyed infrastructure. (September 6, 2023)
REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
“We haven’t seen anything like that before. During the night alone we had to go out 5,000 times to help people,” said fire department spokesman Giorgos Artopoios on Greek radio. Numerous people were brought to safety from their flooded houses by the fire brigade and civil defense in rubber boats. The fire service advised those stuck in their homes to stay upstairs.
“We cannot restore the electricity and water supply,” Achilleas Mpeos, mayor of Volos, told Skai on Wednesday. “The transformers are under water, it’s dangerous to even try to get there.” Without electricity there is no water, and the sewage treatment plants don’t work, said the mayor.
Legend:
A crashed car in Magnesia, Greece, on September 6, 2023.
Keystone/EPA/YANNIS KOLESIDIS
In the bay off Volos, around 400 people waited on a ferry on Wednesday, which was not allowed to dock due to the storm damage. They were finally directed to the port of Agios Konstantinos further south. Operations were also temporarily suspended at the airport on the Sporades island of Skiathos.
What do the meteorologists say? Many emphasize that they have “never seen” anything like it. In the cities of Volos and Larisa it is expected to rain heavily again during the day. Overall, however, the meteorologists give the all-clear: The rain should stop by the evening. Then the massive damage caused by the severe storms should be fully visible for the first time.
Legend:
The rescue workers are on duty around the clock and help the population of Volos out of their predicament.
REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
How is the state reacting? Since Monday, many people in the affected regions have had their smartphones ringing with an unpleasant, loud warning tone: These are messages from civil defense, which informs about the dangers via SMS and calls for people to stay at home or not be allowed to drive in certain areas drive.
Is only Greece affected by the storm? No, heavy rain and severe thunderstorms also occurred in Bulgaria and western Turkey. So far, the rains have claimed at least 14 lives in all three countries. As of Wednesday, there were seven deaths in Turkey. Another 31 people were injured, it said. There were at least four deaths on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in Greece the death toll was three by Wednesday evening.
What are the prospects? In Greece in particular, but also in Turkey, the situation is expected to remain tense. Turkish authorities warn of further storms in the Black Sea region. Storm “Daniel” is also said to continue to rage in central Greece. Only in Bulgaria does the situation appear to be easing – it is not supposed to rain there for the time being.
Legend:
Volos, Greece: The floodwaters fill the river beds with debris and fallen trees.
Reuters/Sevina Dariotou/Eurokinissi