Torrential rains have unleashed havoc in Greece, inundating homes, businesses, and roads, with one casualty reported as a wall collapsed amid the severe weather conditions, according to the fire brigade's latest update on September 5.
Storm Daniel, a tempestuous weather system, has relentlessly battered western and central Greece since September 4, prompting hundreds of calls to emergency services to address the deluge, just days after firefighters successfully brought under control a devastating wildfire that had raged for more than two weeks in the northern region of the country.
A fire brigade official confirmed the tragic death of a man near Volos city, attributing it to a probable wall collapse resulting from adverse weather conditions. However, further details were not immediately available. It was disclosed that the victim was a cattle breeder who met his unfortunate fate while attempting to reach his livestock during the storm.
"The man died after a wall collapsed near Volos city, probably due to bad weather," a fire brigade stated.
Around 94 inmates had to be relocated to safety after torrential rain damaged a portion of their nursing home in Volos, indicating the scale of the disaster.
Dramatic footage broadcast by state media outlet ERT showed cars in Volos, a port city situated on the Pagasetic Gulf, being swept away by the heavy rainfall, ending up stranded on muddy shores.
In another tragic incident, a man was reported missing in Volos after his vehicle was swept away by the relentless rainstorm earlier on September 5, as per a statement from the fire brigade spokesperson, Ioannis Artopoios. The man's son managed to escape the deluge, but his father was carried away, prompting a search operation that remained ongoing at the time of reporting.
"It's the most extreme weather event in terms of the amount of rainfall within 24 hours since records have been kept in the country," declared Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias in a statement.
He urged residents to stay indoors and exercise caution as the weather conditions remained unpredictable and treacherous.
As a precautionary measure, local authorities have imposed traffic restrictions in Volos and the nearby mountainous area of Pelion, where the storm has caused extensive power outages, compounding the difficulties faced by residents and emergency responders alike.
Greece has previously experienced the devastating consequences of flash floods, notably in 2017, when torrential rains led to flash floods that claimed the lives of 25 people and left hundreds of others homeless. The recent onslaught of extreme weather serves as a stark reminder of the country's vulnerability to such natural disasters and underscores the importance of disaster preparedness and climate resilience measures.
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