Storm floods Greek island, leaves 7 dead, including a baby
Posted August 09, 2020 7:00 am
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Seven people, including an elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby, have been found dead as a storm hit the Greek island of Evia, authorities said Sunday. One person was still missing and dozens of others were trapped by floodwaters in their homes and cars.
Greece's meteorological service said parts of Evia saw rainfall that reached 300 millimeters (11.8 inches), some 80% of the annual rainfall for the area, which is only about 375 millimeters (14.8 inches), usually with negligible rain during the summer.
Police say the couple, 86 and 85 years old, were found unconscious in their flooded home Sunday morning in the seaside village of Politika, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the capital, Athens. The baby was found in a ground floor apartment in the same village. The mayor reportedly said the baby's family were tourists.
Deputy Minister for Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias confirmed the deaths Sunday afternoon and added that two people are missing. The names of the dead and missing were not released.
Later, one of the missing, an elderly woman, was found floating at sea off the coast, sitting on top of a bureau. She had climbed on it just as the floodwaters burst into her house.
Firefighters later came upon the bodies of a 38-year-old woman and her 42-year-old husband outside their home in the inland village of Amfithea.
A river burst through its banks and flooded part of Politika, forcing many residents to climb to the rooftops of their homes. Another river in the village of Bourtzi also burst its banks. Authorities estimated that 3,000 residences had been partially or totally damaged by floodwaters and police said many local roads are impassible.
Heavy rain started falling at about midnight Saturday and firefighters responded to over 50 fires caused by lightning. By late afternoon Sunday, 97 people had been safely evacuated from their homes and cars, 30 of them by helicopter, and over 600 homes had been drained of floodwaters, the fire service said.
Firefighters said they came upon hundreds of dead sparrows after trees were hit by lightning.
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Yorgos Karahalis contributed to this report from Politika.
A man walks at a street full of debris following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A woman sits outside her home following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Locals try to move away water and mud from their homes following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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A woman is evacuated form her home by paramedics, following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Locals try to move away water and mud from their shop following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Workers move debris from a destroyed street following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. An elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A woman walks between destroyed cars following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A woman walks between destroyed cars following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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A Civil Protection staff walks on a destroyed street following a storm, at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. An elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
Sunken abandoned vehicles near the seashore following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Mud and debris cover the area of a seaside coffee shop following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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A boy stands behind a fence of a destroyed playground following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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A damaged shoreline following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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A woman tries to move water and mud from his shop following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
Abandoned sunken vehicles following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
Sunken vehicles following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A sunken car near the seashore following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A helicopter flies over vehicles abandoned in the sea following a storm at the village of Bourtzi, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
Damaged cars abandoned at a flooded area outside a house following a storm near the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Mud covers the street in front of a house following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A woman walks through debris following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
Locals try to move water and mud from a tavern following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A man tries to move water and mud from his shop following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people, including en elderly couple and an 8-month-old baby have been found dead, two more are missing and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars as a storm hits the island of Evia in central Greece, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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Members of Red Cross treat a wounded man following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
The Associated Press
A dog sits in front of destroyed cars following a storm at the village of Politika, on Evia island, northeast of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Five people have been found dead and dozens have been trapped in their homes and cars from a storm that has hit the island of Evia, in central Greece, police say. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
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