The toll of the floods that ravaged Thessaly, in central Greece, increased further on Sunday, September 10, to fifteen dead according to firefighters. The body of a 42-year-old man was found in the sea in the Pelion region by the coast guard. He was on the wanted list, the fire department said.

“A total of 4,250 people were rescued and brought to safety between Tuesday September 5 at 7 a.m. and Sunday September 10 at 7 a.m.,” Greek firefighters announced in a statement. Two people remain missing according to civil protection.

In Volos, water supply remains problematic, with pumping stations and much of the water supply network having been destroyed during the storm. "The water is not drinkable," recalled the Greek Ministry of Health, citing cases of gastroenteritis.

The whole region of Pelion is still affected by power and water cuts while the main roads have been damaged by the torrential rains. The firefighters also remain mobilized on the Larissa front where the Pinios river has overflowed and the water has risen dangerously on the outskirts of the city.

More water vapor in the atmosphere

Described by experts as an “extreme phenomenon in terms of the amount of water that fell”, the storm called “Daniel” hit Magnesia on Monday and Tuesday, in particular its capital, the port city of Volos, and the villages of Mount Pelion , before affecting localities around Karditsa and Trikala on Wednesday. These bad weather follow devastating forest fires this summer in Greece, which left at least twenty-six people dead.

As the planet warms, the atmosphere contains more water vapor (about 7% for each additional degree), increasing the risks of heavy precipitation events which, combined with other factors such as urbanization, lead to floods.

In Turkey and Bulgaria, two countries bordering Greece, the torrential rains of recent days have killed twelve people.