"Wildfire Barely Contained"... Greece Receives Two Years' Worth of Rain at Once, 12 Dead

Heavy Rainfall of 800mm Across Central Region
Humidity Concentrated Due to Prolonged Heatwave and Heat Dome Phenomenon

This summer, Greece, which suffered massive damage from the worst heatwaves and wildfires due to abnormal weather patterns, has experienced severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall. More than twice the annual average precipitation fell in the central region, leading to an increasing number of casualties. As climate change intensifies abnormal weather phenomena, warnings have been issued that such natural disasters may become more frequent in the future.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to the Associated Press on the 6th (local time), Storm Daniel, which struck eastern Europe including Greece, T?rkiye, and Bulgaria, brought nearly 800mm of heavy rain in some areas, resulting in at least 12 deaths over the past two days. In a village in the central Greek region of Pelion, approximately 754mm of rain fell in about a day from midnight to 8 p.m. on the 5th.

Considering that Greece's annual average precipitation is only around 400mm, nearly two years' worth of rain fell in just one day. Greek meteorologist Dimitris Giakopoulos stated, "In one area of the central region, 600 to 800mm of rain fell within 24 hours," adding, "Since weather data collection began in 1955, there has been no precedent for this."

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service expects the heavy rain to continue until the afternoon of the 7th and has banned travel to the central areas of Volos, Pelion, and Skiathos Island, urging residents in those regions to stay indoors.

The cause of this heavy rainfall is attributed to the heat dome phenomenon resulting from prolonged heatwaves and wildfires this summer. A large-scale heat dome formed over the Balkan Peninsula, drawing massive amounts of water vapor from the Mediterranean, which led to the heavy rain. Previously, Greece experienced prolonged large-scale wildfires that killed at least 20 people and burned an area larger than New York City.

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