Greece Floods: Death Toll Rises to 14 as Rescue Continues

The death toll from Greece’s devastating flooding has risen to fourteen, following the discovery of two more bodies. The severe weather conditions in Thessaly were caused by the storm Daniel.

Earlier it was reported that a twelfth dead person had been found. The man’s body was discovered between the settlements of Agios Dimitrios and Petrinos in Karditsa.

Another flood victim, a 56-year-old man, had been on the official list of missing persons since September 9th, when he was found by a drone between the settlements of Agios Dimitrios and Petrino in Karditsa.

In the wake of the natural disaster, a total of 4,250 rescue and evacuation operations have been conducted since September 5th, with people being relocated to safer areas.

The region of Thessalia in Greece has been totally devastated by unprecedented floods. pic.twitter.com/c5VEg7186V

— The Greek Analyst (@GreekAnalyst) September 8, 2023

Since September 7th, 767 rescue operations have been carried out using aircraft from various organizations.

The city of Larissa remains on high alert due to the Pinios River overflowing in some areas. This necessitated evacuations. Much of the road network is still not navigable due to the extensive flooding. Boat operations have become essential to reach and evacuate those trapped by the flood.

Flood Situation in Volos: Water Shortage and Risk of Gastroenteritis

Meanwhile, Volos residents are facing a dire water shortage, which has persisted for six days. Mayor Achilleas Beos estimates that it will take fifteen to twenty days to fully restore the water supply due to extensive damage. Beos has urged citizens to remain patient, emphasizing that restoration efforts are underway.

#StormDaniel caused devastating flooding across central and eastern #Greece🇬🇷

Some regions received up to 800mm of rain in recent days – more than normally recorded in a whole year #Sentinel1🇪🇺🛰️ captured this image showing flooded areas near #Volos ⬇️#EMSR692 pic.twitter.com/BF4yo9UzXj

— Copernicus EU (@CopernicusEU) September 9, 2023

Currently, less than ten percent of the city’s water needs are being met by limited water from four pumping stations. To alleviate the situation, the Municipality of Volos is distributing thousands of bottles of water free of charge throughout the city.

Efforts are also being made to pump out water from the basements of buildings, particularly in TEE Magnesia, where a PPC substation has been shut down, leaving the area without electricity.

The Medical Association of Volos has expressed concerns about potential outbreaks of diseases such as gastroenteritis. Additionally, the city is grappling with a significant presence of dust in the air due to drying mud scattered by moving vehicles.

Despite these challenges, the Greek Army swiftly restored the road connection between Volos and South Pelion by erecting a Belley-type bridge in place of the collapsed bridge over the Pellegrino stream between Kalai Nera and Boufas. However, many areas in South Pelion remain cut off, and the road network in East Pelion has been severely damaged, allowing no access.

The situation is particularly dire for the village of Zagora, which has been isolated for six days. This also includes villages such as Puri, Anilio, Horefto, Mouresi, Makrirachi, Xurihti, and Tsagarada.