Greece is currently experiencing a severe weather event as torrential rains have caused widespread flooding, leaving homes, businesses, and roads underwater. Tragically, one person has lost their life after a wall collapsed due to the extreme weather. The heavy rainfall, which has been attributed to a strong area of low pressure passing over the country, has resulted in dangerous flash floods across various regions.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has described the situation as a "totally extreme weather phenomenon" and has urged the public to follow instructions from authorities. The central parts of Greece, as well as the island of Evia and the Sporades Islands, have been particularly affected by the heavy rainfall.
In the village of Agios Georgios near the city of Volos, a man tragically died after being crushed by a collapsed wall. Additionally, a man is reported missing after being swept away with his car on the outskirts of Volos. To ensure safety, the police have banned traffic circulation in Volos and surrounding areas, as well as on the island of Skiathos.
The storm, named Daniel by the national meteorological services in southeast Europe, is slowly moving across Greece towards the southwest. Although its center is emerging into the Mediterranean Sea, it is expected to continue bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to Greece and islands in the eastern Mediterranean over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Red warnings have been issued for heavy rain and thunderstorms, particularly along the eastern coastline, where continuous bouts of thunderstorms are expected. The storm's interaction with the Mediterranean Sea could potentially result in it gaining tropical storm characteristics. These systems, known as "medicanes," can bring dangerous conditions to coastal areas similar to tropical storms and hurricanes.
The warm sea surface temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees Celsius in the eastern Mediterranean may contribute to the storm's strengthening over the next few days.
This extreme weather event comes at a time when Greece is already grappling with hundreds of wildfires that have ravaged parts of the country in recent weeks. Scientists emphasize that the severity and frequency of such extreme weather events, including floods, fires, and heatwaves, will continue to increase as long as society continues to rely on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.