Deforestation after wildfires exacerbated effects of flooding in Greece, says expert

By Derya Gulnaz Ozcan

ATHENS (AA) – A Greek meteorology expert on Thursday said the wildfires that caused deforestation contributed to exacerbating the effects of flooding in the country.

Such heavy rainfall in the Mediterranean Basin was experienced only in Genoa Bay, Director of the National Meteorological Service Theodoros Kolidas told Anadolu, who added that heavy rains in the country are generally brought by Mediterranean cyclones, as in 2020.

However, he noted that this time the heavy rain was brought by a weather system from the eastern direction.

The meteorologist added that heavy rains usually last six to eight hours in Greece, which was not the case with the latest one.

"In many areas, the rain lasted over 24 hours. As such, this rainfall was immense both in terms of volume, and duration," he said, adding that effects of climate change in the situation cannot be overlooked.

At least three people were killed in heavy rains on Tuesday and Wednesday that caused flooding and landslides and disrupted normal life after Storm Daniel battered the entire country, particularly in the central city of Volos, where at least 200,000 people were without power.