Torrential rains, among other things, cause dams to collapse in Greece: people and dogs are stuck on their roofs, and the country’s main highway is closed | outside

Rescue operations are still underway, but bad weather conditions prevent helicopters from taking off. In Pelion, 150 people were trapped for three days without water, food or electricity.

Elsewhere, too, the damage is massive. The country’s main highway, between the capital Athens and north of Thessaloniki (Greece’s second city), has been closed since Wednesday evening due to the storm. The main highway cannot be used for about 200 km. Trains no longer run between the two cities. Greek police also closed other roads.

look. What kind of weather can Greece expect?

And in the Greek mountainous region of Magnesia, in the region of Thessaly, between 600 and 800 mm of rain fell in 24 hours. This has never happened in recent decades, Dimitris Ziacopoulos, a meteorologist, told a news conference in Athens. “It is an exceptional situation,” added Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of the Climate Crisis. “The intensity and duration of this phenomenon is also unprecedented.”

The Great Low Plain of Thessaly, Greece’s “breadbasket”, is now submerged. Infrastructure has been severely damaged: in many villages and large parts of the cities of Volos, Larissa and Karditsa, there is no electricity or water.

“We have not seen anything like this yet. Only at night we had to go out 5,000 times to help people,” fire brigade spokesman Giorgos Artobios told Greek radio. Many people have been taken to safety in inflatable boats. Those still trapped in their home are advised to visit The upper floors, residents are being systematically evacuated, but access to them is very difficult, according to the Greek fire brigade, and in some places the water in the area is up to two meters high.

Due to the dire situation in the storm-ravaged central regions, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ordered the deployment of the army. And also a brigade of marines stationed near the port city of Volos, which is completely covered with mud. Mitsotakis will visit the hard-hit city of Thessaly this weekend.

A crisis cell was formed in Larissa, the capital of Thessaly. According to a government spokesperson, the clear priority at the moment is to rescue people in the area, which has been almost completely flooded.

It also rained all night in Athens. Streets were flooded and several metro stations were closed. However, there is no serious damage in the capital. And there is hope: By Thursday evening, the rain will stop. Only then will the full picture of the damage to Greece as a result of Storm Daniel become clear. It could run into the billions. It seems that citizens who have lost their property will receive support from the Greek state.

According to official figures, three people have been killed in the storms in Greece so far. There are also many missing. Neighboring countries Türkiye and Bulgaria have already lost their lives in the storm. The region had previously suffered from a heat wave.