Intense Rainstorms Hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, Causing Flooding and Landslides.
The number of people who have died due to the heavy rainstorms in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria has risen to 11. Rescue teams found four additional bodies. The storm, called Daniel by Greek weather experts, has been hitting the area since Monday. It has caused the most damage in the central Greek area of Magnesia and its capital, Volos, which is about 185 miles north of Athens.
An 87-year-old woman who had been missing since Tuesday was discovered deceased on Wednesday in the village of Paltsi in Magnesia, according to Yannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the fire department, as reported by public broadcaster Ert.
On Tuesday, a 51-year-old man was found lifeless close to Volos after being carried away by a swiftly rising stream.
Electricity in Volos has been unavailable since Tuesday morning, and nearby villages have experienced significant damage to buildings and roads due to landslides and floods, as reported by Agence France-Presse news agency.
These heavy rains come after several weeks of destructive wildfires in Greece.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described this as an extraordinary event.
A massive fire that had been burning for the past two weeks destroyed parts of Dadia National Park in the northern Evros region. Authorities have now brought it under control.
Turkey
A sudden and powerful flood struck a campsite in northwestern Turkey, close to the Bulgarian border, causing the deaths of at least four individuals and sweeping away bungalow homes. Two of these victims were located on Wednesday.
Search and rescue teams were actively looking for two more individuals who were reported missing at the campsite.
In Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city, an additional two individuals lost their lives due to the severe storms that hit on Tuesday. These storms caused extensive flooding in numerous neighborhoods, affecting hundreds of homes and businesses.
Among the victims in Istanbul was a 32-year-old person from Guinea who was trapped inside his basement apartment in the economically disadvantaged Kucukcekmece district, as per the information from Turkish broadcaster HaberTurk TV.
The other casualty was a 57-year-old woman who lost her life after being carried away by the floodwaters in a different neighborhood, according to reports from the private DHA news agency.
The rising floodwaters impacted over 1,750 homes and businesses in the city, as reported by the Istanbul governor’s office.
In the Ikitelli district, a row of stores was also affected. The flood swept parked vehicles and mud into furniture stores, causing significant damage to the merchandise, according to DHA’s report.
The floods also covered a parking area for containers and trucks on the outskirts of the city. People sought safety by climbing onto the roof of a restaurant, as reported by Turkish media.
Bulgaria
The Black Sea coast of Bulgaria has experienced the most intense rainfall it has seen in years.
Thunderstorms starting from Monday evening led to rivers overflowing, resulting in damage to bridges and isolating areas in the region located to the south of the coastal city of Burgas.
On Wednesday, search teams found the body of a missing tourist in the sea, bringing the total number of fatalities in that area to three.
Border police boats and drones were being used to help search for two more individuals who are still reported missing.
Television footage showed that in the southern resort town of Tsarevo, cars and camper vans were being washed into the sea, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Most of the rivers in the region overflowed, and numerous bridges were destroyed, leading to significant traffic issues.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov called it a disaster and emphasized that the steep coastal terrain poses a significant danger. He also mentioned that long-term solutions would be necessary to secure the area.
The rainfall was the heaviest since 1994, with as much rain falling in 24 hours as is typically seen over several months, according to Alexandar Dzhartov, the head of the fire department.
Flooding, which had been uncommon on the Black Sea coast, is becoming more frequent in Bulgaria due to the effects of climate change and the inadequate maintenance of infrastructure.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast has experienced the most substantial rainfall in many years.
Since Monday evening, intense thunderstorms have led to rivers overflowing, resulting in bridge damage and the isolation of areas in the region located to the south of the coastal city of Burgas.
On Wednesday, search teams found the body of a missing tourist in the sea, bringing the total number of fatalities in that area to three.
Border police boats and drones were being used to help search for two more individuals who are still reported as missing.
On TV, you could see cars and camper vans being washed into the sea in the southern resort town of Tsarevo. Authorities had to declare a state of emergency there.
Most of the rivers in the region overflowed, and several bridges were destroyed, causing significant traffic problems.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov described it as a disaster and emphasized the considerable danger posed by the steep coastal terrain. He also mentioned that lasting solutions would be necessary to make the area safe.
According to Alexandar Dzhartov, the head of the fire department, these rains were the heaviest since 1994, with as much rain falling in 24 hours as is usually seen over several months.
Flooding, which used to happen infrequently along the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria, is now happening more often due to the effects of climate change and because the infrastructure is not being well-maintained.
SOURCE:ALJAZEERA