Hundreds are stranded due to the unprecedented floods in Greece. In the dramatic photo above is the agonizing moment a father, his two sons, and the family dog swim to their safety as floods have turned the village of Palamas in Thessaly, central Greece into a giant lake.
The video was shot by a neighbor who is heard offering encouragement to the family and blaming the state authorities for the floods.
He is heard calling on the army to help with evacuations. After a long swim in the muddy waters father, children and the dog managed to reach safety.
Παλαμάς Καρδίτσας. Απίστευτο σκηνικό.
Η απελπισμένη προσπάθεια ενός πατέρα να σώσει τα δύο μικρά παιδιά του και το σκυλί του, με ένα φουσκωτό στρώμα θαλάσσης.
«Κοιτάξτε τα παιδάκια. Θα πνιγεί ο κόσμος. Κοιτάξτε πού μας καταντήσατε… Πού είναι ο στρατός; Έστω μια βάρκα. Κοιτάξτε… pic.twitter.com/d4Xk2oGpyY— Areti Athanasiou (@AretiAthanasiu) September 7, 2023
In another video from Palamas in the region of Karditsa, residents are seen on the rooftops to avoid the flood.
Residents are trapped in their homes and the water level is constantly rising. Palamas and neighboring villages have been without electricity and water since early Thursday.
People are trying to save what they can from their properties on their own, while as they complain, the authorities are largely absent.
Storm Daniel, which has battered Greece since Monday, triggered landslides, destroyed a bridge, caused the collapse of power poles and carried away dozens of cars in muddy waters, just days after a deadly wildfire in the north of the country.
Death toll from floods in Greece climbs to 3
The death toll from the floods following torrential rains in central Greece has reached three, while at least three people are missing. The hardest hit area is the plain of Thessaly.
On Tuesday the city of Volos, Mount Pelion and the island of Skiathos were devastated. In Volos, thunder, lightning and heavy rainfall continued with few breaks.
Many areas of the city had been without power for more than 30 hours by late Wednesday evening, resulting in the water supply being cut off.
North and South Pelion were cut off from the city of Volos while many villages could not be accessed due to landslides and falling trees.
On Wednesday stormy weather moved towards the west and the south causing floods in the regions of Karditsa and Trikala and Evia.
The Greek police called on drivers to avoid unnecessary travel both on the national road network and on local roads where severe weather phenomena are observed or warnings have been issued.
A message via the emergency number 112 was sent to the residents of Sofades, Karditsa, and Pyli, Trikala, in order to avoid underground and ground floors in buildings.
The area of Rovies, in Northern Evia, is tested on Thursday as several houses have been flooded following the torrential rain. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the area to remove people trapped in their homes. Problems have also been created on the road network.
The storm has also hit Athens causing flooding and chaos on streets. Heavy rain started on Wednesday morning, but by 4:00 PM local time, the situation significantly worsened as the city and its suburbs were hit by heavy downpours and lightning.
Έξω από το μετρό του Ευαγγελισμού.
Σοβαρά τώρα;#κακοκαιρια pic.twitter.com/7qomd0lqID— Stella ☘ (@stellaki70) September 6, 2023
Due to heavy rainfall, the streets of Athens have turned into “rivers.”
Photos and videos appeared in social media with cars in flooded areas. Citizens have been knocked down by stormy streams of water.
Some have tried to fight the flood on their own, clinging to poles and trees. Passers-by have been helping each other to get on their feet amidst the downpour.
The National Meteorological Service (EMY) has forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms until Thursday afternoon in Thessaly, the Sporades islands, northern Evia, and parts of central and eastern Central Greece (Sterea Ellada).
This is a developing story