Villages lower off after ‘Biblical’ downpours in Greece as state of emergency stays in place

Sep 07, 2023 at 5:45 AM
Villages lower off after ‘Biblical’ downpours in Greece as state of emergency stays in place

The rain that Storm Daniel has delivered to components of Greece is endless.

For these caught within the downpour, which has been torrential in locations, the phrase used over and over is “biblical”.

The rain comes after weeks of wildfires destroyed enormous areas of the nation.

A view of the seaside town of Volos where the sea mixes with floodwaters, after torrential rains destroyed the infrastructure and caused flooding in the area in Volos, Greece, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
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The seaside city of Volos the place the ocean mixes with floodwaters

We travelled by way of central Greece to the worst affected areas and located cities and villages lower off by the rising floodwater.

Many of the roads had been abandoned as individuals heeded authorities warnings to remain inside.

As we drove we noticed that swathes of the countryside had been slowly turning into inland seas because the rain continued to fall.

The deluge is unprecedented. And it’s inflicting chaos throughout the nation.

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Many properties that we noticed as we ventured into the attention of the storm have been inundated.

Like many right here, Pavlos Christodouglou is combating a dropping battle in opposition to nature.

A view shows a destroyed main road connecting the touristic villages of Portaria and Makrynica, after torrential rains destroyed the infrastructure and caused flooding in the area, in Portaria, Greece, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
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A destroyed foremost street connecting the touristic villages of Portaria and Makrynica

He cannot pump the water out of his house quick sufficient.

And because the rain beat down he informed me he’d by no means seen something like this earlier than.

A woman looks at the destruction after torrential rains destroyed the infrastructure and caused flooding in the area, in Agria, central Greece September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
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Agria, central Greece

“There’s been more rain in 12 hours than in the last two years,” he mentioned.

In Volos, it’s a related image. The authorities say the horrible circumstances are one other signal of a deteriorating local weather disaster.

Locals try to protect their house from floodwater after torrential rains destroyed the infrastructure and caused flooding, in Agria, Greece September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
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Agria, Greece

On the island of Skiathos, a spot usually of tranquil magnificence and calm right now of yr, holidaymakers have been caught – lower off from the mainland with flights and ferries cancelled.

The hope is that the rain will ease within the subsequent 24 hours however for now a state of emergency stays in lots of locations.