A Minimum of Five Fatalities as Intense Rainfall Results in Flooding Across Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria

33

Severe rainstorms hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria this past Tuesday, leading to flooding that has confirmed at least five deaths. Among the deceased were two vacationers engulfed by a flash flood at a campsite in Turkey’s northwestern region of Kirklareli, which borders Bulgaria.

Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, disclosed that four additional people remain unaccounted for following the flood that overran the campsite. According to Yerlikaya, approximately 12 individuals were present at the location at the time of the flood. Yerlikaya updated the situation on the social media platform previously known as Twitter, stating that two bodies had been recovered and search efforts for the remaining missing persons were ongoing.

Media outlets broadcast footage of emergency crews evacuating a young girl and an adult from water levels that reached up to the waist in some locations. The torrential rain also led to the temporary closure of a significant roadway, as reported by HaberTurk television.

Additional Coverage

• Horseshoe Beach, a Florida fishing village, struggles to retain its allure after devastation from Hurricane Idalia
• Death Valley park’s reopening is uncertain following extensive damage from Hurricane Hilary
• Queues for exiting Burning Man festival diminish after flood conditions strand large crowds in the Nevada desert

In Greece, due to unprecedented levels of rainfall, traffic was prohibited in the central town of Volos, the mountainous region of Pilion, and the vacation island of Skiathos. At least one fatality occurred near Volos, where a man was killed after a wall collapsed onto him. An additional five individuals have been declared missing, suspected to have been carried away by the floodwaters.

Public alerts were dispatched via cellphones advising residents in various parts of central Greece, the Sporades islands, and the island of Evia to restrict outdoor activities. In Pilion, streams overflowed, sweeping cars into the sea, rockfalls obstructed roadways, a small bridge was demolished, and numerous regions experienced power outages.

Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s Minister for Civil Protection, stated that the weather conditions were expected to moderate by Wednesday afternoon. Kikilias also cautioned that more rain was anticipated later on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

Official forecasts indicated that Pilion could expect between 6.5 to 7 centimeters of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, while 5 to 6 centimeters were predicted for Karditsa. For context, the Athens region receives an average annual rainfall of around 40 centimeters.

This wave of storms arrives after a series of devastating wildfires ravaged Greece earlier this summer, claiming over 20 lives. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attributed both the wildfires and the recent storms to the effects of climate change.

In Bulgaria, the situation was equally dire. Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov reported two confirmed deaths and three missing persons following the storms that led to flooding along the southern Black Sea coast. Infrastructure such as roads and bridges suffered significant damage, and power outages were widespread. Residents were also cautioned against consuming tap water due to potential contamination.

High winds generated 2-meter high waves that crashed onto the shores of tourist hotspots, while heavy rainfall inundated streets and residences. Television coverage displayed vehicles being carried out to sea in the particularly affected southern resort town of Tsarevo, where a state of emergency has been declared. Authorities have advised residents to seek higher ground as the lower levels of some hotels were flooded.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Severe Rainstorms and Flooding

More about Severe Rainstorms and Flooding

• Severe Weather and Climate Change: Understanding the Link
• Greece’s Recent Wildfires: An Overview
• Emergency Preparedness and Response in Flood Situations
• Climate Change and Its Impact on Infrastructure
• Recent Natural Disasters: Global Trends and Responses