The search for a woman from Thessaloniki, who went missing during the recent thunderstorms, continues. The car that she was reportedly driving has been located, with the hazard lights lit, on the Nea Michaniona – Epanomi highway.
Four people died as a result of the weather conditions; a 62-year-old woman with mobility problems in Pidima outside Kalamata, an 80-year-old woman in her basement apartment in the city center of Kalamata, a 90-year-old man in Thouria who also suffered from mobility issues and a 73-year-old man, whose body was recovered from a stream in Vlachioti, Laconia.
The dramatic shift in weather conditions caused many damages, primarily in Messinia, Laconia and Ilia, as well as the Municipality of Thermaikos in Thessaloniki. Many houses and stores were flooded from the water and mud, while cars were swept away, with some ending up in the sea.
The Fire Brigade services in the affected areas received hundreds of calls, while the Alternate Minister of Public Order Nikos Toskas has declared a state of emergency in these areas.
The Director of the national meteorological service (EMY) Antonis Lalos told the Athens-Macedonia News Agency that the weather would subside on Wednesday, only to take another turn for the worse early on Thursday morning. Mr. Lalos also noted that about 100mm of rain fell during the 6 -12 hours the thunderstorms lasted.
