Flood water gushes down Skiathos road as intense rain hits Greece
Further storms are set to batter a Greek island where hundreds of British tourists are stranded following flash floods.
At least one person was killed and five others are thought to be missing after cars were swept away and streets submerged by rainfall in parts of Greece on Tuesday.
It comes as the World Meteorological Organisation said that the northern hemisphere experienced its hottest summer on record, fuelled by climate change.
Skiathos, a popular holiday island in the northwest Aegean Sea, was forecast to be hit with heavy showers and thunderstorms throughout Wednesday morning.
Holidaymakers on the island have been left with “no way to get food” with many currently unable to get to the airport.
One stranded tourist said the centre of Skiathos is “underwater” and described the situation as “horrendously scary”.
Flooding is also affecting parts of Turkey and Bulgaria with the death toll across the three countries currently at 11.
Death toll now 12 as extra bodies recovered in Turkey
The death toll from severe rainstorms that have lashed parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to 12 after rescue teams in the three neighbouring countries recovered five more bodies.
A flash flood at a campsite in north-western Turkey near the border with Bulgaria killed at least five people – with three found dead on Wednesday – and carried away bungalow homes.
They had reported earlier on Wednesday that four more bodies had been found to bring the total to 11 and that they were searching for two more bodies. They are now seeking only one more.
Workers clean a water drain on the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains in Istanbul
(AP)
William Mata6 September 2023 15:33
Latest victims identified from Istanbul
Two victims to have been idenfied in the Istanbul tragedy.
They include a 32-year-old Guinean citizen who was trapped inside his basement apartment in the low-income Kucukcekmece district, Turkish broadcaster HaberTurk TV reported.
The other was a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept away by the floods in another neighbourhood, the private DHA news agency reported.
The surging flood waters affected more than 1,750 homes and businesses in the city, according to the Istanbul governor’s office.
(AP)
William Mata6 September 2023 15:13
Death toll reaches 11 – update
The death toll from severe rainstorms that have lashed parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to 11.
Four more bodies have been recovered after a flash flood at a campsite in north-western Turkey near the border with Bulgaria.
Two were found dead on Wednesday and carried away bungalow homes with rescuers still looking for two more people.
Another two people died in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, where Tuesday’s storms inundated hundreds of homes and workplaces in several neighbourhoods.
Emergency team members rescue a young girl during floods in a campsite in Kirklareli province, Turkey
(AP)
William Mata6 September 2023 15:04
Storm causes floods of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast
In Bulgaria, a storm caused floods on the country’s southern Black Sea coast.
The body of a missing tourist was recovered from the sea on Wednesday, raising the overall death toll to three. Border police vessels and drones were assisting efforts to locate another two people still listed as missing.
TV footage showed cars and camper vans being swept out to sea in the southern resort town of Tsarevo, where authorities declared a state of emergency.
Most of the rivers in the region burst their banks and several bridges were destroyed, causing serious traffic problems.
Tourism minister Zaritsa Dinkova said about 4,000 people were affected by the disaster along the entire southern stretch of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
“There is a problem transporting tourists because it is dangerous to go by coach on the roads affected by the floods,” she added.
People try to pull out a car submerged in the sea at Arapia camping site near Tsarevo along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast
(AFP via Getty Images)
William Mata6 September 2023 14:49
Pictures from the flooding – Greece and Turkey
Firefighters with a rubber dinghy evacuee people and dogs from flooded buildings in Larissa
(AP)
Containers are scattered near a train station on the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains in Istanbul
(AP)
People stand near a digger on a flooded street in Kala Nera near the city of Volos
(AFP via Getty Images)
A woman stands in floodwater by her house after torrential rains destroyed the infrastructure and caused flooding in the area, in Agria, Pelion, central Greece
(REUTERS)
William Mata6 September 2023 14:40
Greece has reported its “most extreme amount of rain in 24 hours” since records began after the deluge.
So far one man has died in the eastern coastal town of Volos after a wall collapsed on him.
Greece’s climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias was part of an emergency cabinet meeting into the issue.
“This is the most extreme phenomenon in terms of the maximum amount of rain in a 24-hour period since records began in the country,” Mr Kikilias said afterwards.
He later retweeted instructions about preventing forest fires with the country’s Civil Protection agency stating there could be a risk on Thursday.
William Mata6 September 2023 14:30
Around 50-150mm of rain to fall in the next few days – Met Office
The Met Office has predicted that as much as 150mm of rain could fall in the next two to three days in the worst hit areas.
The agency has added that the storm “will weaken” in a few days’ time.
Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesperson, said: “Storm Daniel, as named by the Greek Meteorological Service, is bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to much of the central Mediterranean, including Sicily and Malta and Greece in particular.
“Much of the area will see between 50 and 150mm of rain over the next two days from Daniel, as it’s a slow-moving system.
“Some places could see in excess of 300mm of rain over two days. There are also strong winds and rough seas throughout the period. Daniel will gradually weaken in a few days’ time.”
A man walks near a partially destroyed house in Kala Nera village
(REUTERS)
William Mata6 September 2023 14:20
Driving still banned in Trikala
Driving is banned in the Greek city of Trikala following heavy rain and flash floods. Officials in the city, in the central region of Thessaly, gave the update on Wednesday morning.
Motorists have been told they can’t go on the roads due to the “dangerous” weather conditions.
A photo shows cars in a flooded road in the city of Volos, central Greece
(AFP via Getty Images)
William Mata6 September 2023 14:10
2 dead, 31 injured in Turkey – interior minister
At least 31 people were injured in flash foods affecting parts of Turkey, the country’s interior minister has said.
Ali Yerlikaya said that eight of the total are still being treated for their injuries. Some of the households affected will be given financial support from the state, he added.
Thousands of homes and businesses were flooded following torrential rain in the capital Istanbul. Two people died.
A man is rescued and evacuated during flooding in Kucukcekmece district in Istanbul
(AFP via Getty Images)
William Mata6 September 2023 14:00
Flood-hit area of Turkey also braced for more rain
Two holiday holidaymakers were swept away by a torrent of water that raged through a campsite in Kirklareli province, northwest Turkey near the border with Bulgaria.
More rain is forecast for the province today.
Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said four other people were missing after the flash flood swept over the site.
Search teams had located two bodies, he said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The search and rescue efforts for the missing (four) continue uninterrupted,” he added.
William Mata6 September 2023 13:50