Storm Daniel Triggers Severe Flooding in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria
A number of individuals have been reported missing, alongside several fatalities.
Intense rainstorms have impacted Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria as Storm Daniel ravages these neighboring nations.
Widespread flooding has engulfed towns, villages, and cities, leading to multiple deaths and an ongoing search for those swept away by the deluge.
Greece
In Volos, the Pilion mountain region, and on the resort island of Skiathos, Greek authorities have prohibited traffic due to rainfall creating torrents that reach thigh-high levels in the streets, resulting in vehicles being carried away.
According to Greece’s meteorological service, a village in Pilion recorded 75.4 centimeters of rain late Tuesday—marking the highest amount since at least 2006. For comparison, the average annual rainfall in Athens is approximately 40 centimeters.
Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias stated that this represents the most extreme weather event regarding rainfall within a 24-hour period since official records began in Greece. He indicated that heavy rains were anticipated to diminish after midday Wednesday and urged residents in affected areas to remain indoors.
Authorities issued mobile alerts across several regions in central Greece as well as the Sporades Islands and Evia Island, advising citizens to limit outdoor activities.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attributed both recent wildfires and storms to climate change. He expressed concern that “the carefree summers we once knew… will become a thing of the past,” forecasting increasingly challenging summers ahead.
Turkey
In northwestern Turkey, two tourists were swept away by floodwaters that inundated a campsite.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that four additional individuals are missing following flash floods at a campsite located in Kirklareli province near the Bulgarian border. Approximately twelve holidaymakers were present when the flooding occurred.
Search teams have recovered two bodies according to his updates on X (formerly Twitter), while efforts continue unabated for the remaining four missing persons.
In Istanbul, heavy rains led to street and home flooding across two neighborhoods; local officials have confirmed at least two fatalities. Rescue operations saved around a dozen people trapped inside a library while some subway stations suspended services. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul advised motorcyclists to refrain from driving during this time.
Bulgaria
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov announced that two individuals lost their lives and three others are unaccounted for following storms that triggered floods along Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast.
Rivers overflowing their banks inflicted significant damage on roads and bridges throughout the region. Additionally, power outages were reported as authorities cautioned residents against consuming tap water due to potential contamination from floodwaters.
