简体中文
A rescue operation to locate and save people stranded in flooded areas near Greek capital city was still underway on Wednesday, as the death toll from the flash floods reached thirteen, according to the latest official count, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
The victims were mainly elderly local residents. The bodies of a hunter, truck driver, and two unidentified persons were found near the sea area, according to sources from local authorities, who expressed concern that the final tally may climb further after rescue teams reach areas where persons have been reported missing.
According to AMNA, at least three people had been reported missing by relatives and neighbors. And at least ten injured have been transferred to the nearby Elefsina hospital.
The heavy rain that fell in the municipalities of Mandra, Nea Peramos, and Megara, about 20 km southwest of Athens, in the early hours of Wednesday, created charging torrents of muddy water and debris that swept away cars, flooded homes and stores, and cut off roads, including parts of the national highway.
A state of emergency has been declared in the area, as the fire brigade has received more than 400 telephone calls to assist motorists trapped inside their cars or homes by rising waters reaching up to two meters.
Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other political leaders expressed deep sorrow for the victims and support for the residents of areas hit by the torrential rain.
According to Greek scientists, flooding in Greece is common in November, but the intensity of the floods seen in west Attica and other parts of the country could be linked to climate change or urban planning violations.
Greece's meteorological service chief Antonis Lalos spoke to AMNA about an "extreme phenomenon". Uninterrupted rain for a week in Greece is not common.
One of the greatest natural disasters to ever strike Athens occurred in November 1961, when a violent and extended storm claimed 43 lives and inflicted major damages, he noted.
This time, Greece has been the victim of a bad weather front from the west to the east since Saturday, and meteorologists forecast it will not recede late this week.
The island of Symi in the eastern Aegean Sea was also declared in a state of emergency on Tuesday after a dozen cars were swept into the sea during similar flash floods.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
