After the devastating floods in Greece, the death toll has risen to 14. According to authorities, another dead person was found on a beach on the Pelion peninsula in the center of the country on Saturday. It was therefore a 77-year-old man. The bodies of a 65-year-old and his 88-year-old mother were recovered near the village of Karditsa on Sunday.
Small success reports
Since the storm began, more than 2,850 people have been rescued, fire department spokesman Yannis Artopios told broadcaster Mega. Nevertheless, “many people are still trapped”, especially in the villages around Karditsa, Palamas and on the way to Trikala in central Greece. Work to restore water and electricity supplies has already begun in the port city of Volos, which is largely covered in mud.
The situation near the city of Larissa remains worrying. “We are having great difficulties with the Pinios River near Larissa, which has overflowed its banks,” said fire department spokesman Artopios. On the outskirts of the city, the river had swollen to a height of 2.5 meters.
“There is a risk of epidemics”
In addition, the risk of epidemics increases day by day because of the stagnant water. Dead sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and cats lie in the largely rural region. The number of mosquitoes has already increased enormously, reporters reported. People were urged to only use safe drinking water, such as bottled water, and not water from the floods. “There is a risk of an epidemic,” warned epidemiologist Gikas Magiorkinis on the Skai news channel.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inspected the regions hit by the floods on Friday. He promised people quick and unbureaucratic financial help.
fab/sti (afp, dpa)
This article has been updated.
Source: DW
