The Greek city of Alexandroupolis is reeling from an unprecedented tornado strike that hit on Saturday, with Mayor Ioannis Zampoukis describing the aftermath as a “bombed landscape where no bombs fell.”
The storm unleashed wind gusts reaching 150 km/hr (92 miles/hr), sweeping away everything in its path. The local community witnessed scenes of panic; in one local cafe, customers were filmed scrambling behind the bar for safety as the tornado shattered windows and tore through the establishment.
The scale of destruction at Alexandroupolis following the tornado
At the local airport, four training aircraft were completely overturned by the wind. While the infrastructure remained intact, the damage to the planes exceeded €400,000 (over $476,000).
Over 150 trees were uprooted along the waterfront alone. The municipal campsite was hit particularly hard, with fifteen ancient trees falling and fourteen vehicles declared a total loss.
The city’s famous groves have been decimated. “It is heartbreaking for citizens who know how beautiful our coastline was,” the mayor stated.
Mayor Zampoukis clarified that, while the Municipality is collecting claims, the Greek State will be responsible for payouts. Citizens must apply with photographic evidence of the damage. A dedicated desk has been set up at City Hall in collaboration with the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace to assist business owners and merchants.
Related: Heavy Winds Cause Ferry Cancellations, Material Damages Across Greece
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