Flood Chaos Hits Eastern Greece After Weeks of Wildfires
Eastern Greece is reeling from relentless flooding that has left at least one dead and a shepherd missing. The country, still battered by weeks of brutal wildfires, now faces a fresh crisis as torrential rains drown the region.
Floodwaters Sweep Victim Away
The confirmed fatality was reportedly swept off by raging floodwaters in the Magnesia region, central Greece, according to government spokesman Yannis Artopios. Meanwhile, a shepherd remains missing, sparking urgent search efforts.
Volos, the regional capital, was hammered with roughly 200mm (eight inches) of rain, while the nearby village of Zagora bore the brunt, suffering an extraordinary 600mm downpour in just 24 hours — the equivalent of a whole autumn’s rainfall.
The extreme flooding inundated basements, including that of Volos hospital, where firefighters are battling to pump out water and limit damage.
Wildfire Battle Finally Turns Tide
On a brighter note, emergency crews have quelled the massive wildfire blazing through Dadia National Park for over two weeks. This “megafire” scorched more than 81,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of protected forest land, nearly half of Greece’s total wildfire damage this summer.
Travel Chaos and Government Warning
- Travel bans hit Volos, parts of Pelion, and Skiathos island due to flooding.
- Airport operations are crippled; planes cannot land as floodwaters engulf runways.
- Fraport spokesperson Savvas Karagiannis confirmed major flight delays.
- National Meteorological Service warns severe weather may continue until Thursday.
PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the situation “an extreme phenomenon” amid talks with President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, reflecting the scale of the crisis.
Summer of Fire and Floods
This latest flood disaster arrives after a summer plagued by wildfires, which have claimed 26 lives and destroyed at least 150,000 hectares. Greece, like many Mediterranean nations, faces escalating challenges as brutal heat fuels fires and sudden storms trigger floods.
