What is the situation in Greece after the floods?

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will ask European authorities for help for his country, which was hit last week by heavy rains and deadly floods.

Athena appeals for help. After devastating forest fires that devoured more than 150,000 hectares and left at least 26 people dead, floods struck the center of the country, especially the plain of Thessaly.

The human toll is not yet final

Fifteen people have died and at least two are missing, according to the latest report from rescuers. The Coast Guard found the body of a 42-year-old man at sea in the Pelion area. Firefighters confirmed that he was on the wanted list. A previous report had stated that fourteen people had died.

“A total of 4,250 people were rescued and taken to safety between Tuesday, September 5 at 7 a.m. (local time) and Sunday, September 10 at 7 a.m.,” Greek firefighters said in a statement.

Firefighters remain on alert in Larissa, a town in central Thessaly, where the Pinios River has overflowed and waters are rising dangerously on the outskirts of the town.

Hundreds of people whose homes collapsed or were damaged by torrential rains last week are currently staying in hotels, schools and community centers in the area.

Helicopter evacuations

On Monday, the authorities began transporting thousands of drowned animals to other areas for burial or cremation. Water levels are still high in some areas, reaching three meters last week. Rescuers used boats and helicopters last week to evacuate trapped residents.

Described as “an extreme phenomenon in terms of the amount of water falling within 24 hours”, “rainfall between 600 and 800 mm” mainly affected Thessaly between 5 and 6 September.

The government indicated that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who visited the affected areas, will travel to Strasbourg on Tuesday to discuss with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, “the issue of supporting this country in the face of natural disasters.” Spokesman Pavlos Marinakis during a press conference.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, on Sunday evening, that the discussion will focus on “major financial support to respond to the major disaster” in Thessaly.

He once again blamed the disaster on the “climate crisis”, but experts and the opposition condemn the lack of adequate preventive works in the region, which was already damaged in 2020 by devastating floods.

The government announced on Monday that it would grant €6,000 to anyone whose home was damaged, and an “initial sum of between €2,000 and €4,000” for damage to businesses, farmers or ranchers. An envelope of €41.5 million will be given to local authorities to restore infrastructure.