The swelling of water at Ardas river, at northeastern Greece’s Evros district, has placed the region on alert. The waterway, a tributary of the Evros river at the Greek border with Bulgaria has been rising continuously. The rush of floodwater caused damage just a hundred meters away from the fence created by previous governments to deter illegal immigrants

Meter-high levees were built at the Kastanies settlements, after water levesl rose dangerously following a decision by the Bulgarian authorities to open the ivailograc dam in order to relieve flooding after torrential rain.

Greek authorities believe that they have yet to see the worse and believe that Wednesday would be critical, showing the peak of the water, as it takes approximately 12 hours for it to travel from Bulgaria to Greece.

The northern part of the Egnatia National Highway was flooded and the Kastanies customs office has been shut down.

In Arta, northwestern Greece, rainfall did not subside on Monday with the Arachthos river swelling, causing the exclusion of a number of villages in the region. At least 200 homes have been damaged and thousands of hectares of cultivation have been destroyed. Trenches are being dug up in the hope of preventing greater disaster.

Snowfall in Ioannina, northwestern Greece, created traffic problems in the city.

Part of the Ioannina-Artas highway was damaged at the height of Terovos, whereas the historic bridge of Plakas was sept away. Alternate Infrastructures Minister Christos Spirtzis rushed to the region and said that the bridge can be reconstructed, whereas Nikos Loulis, a flour industrialist, said that he would sponsor part of the restoration work.

An emergency situation has also been declared in Preveza, at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf, following the flooding of the Kalamas and Acheron River. The flood waters caused massive destructions with a number of villages excluded due to landslides and damage to the road network.

The port at Pargas, northwestern Greece, was struck by huge waves. 

The village of Krikelo at Evrytania, central Greece, was evacuated due to landslides as rock bolders and stones fell onto the village square. Other villages in the region have been cut off due to road splits.

The situation worsened following snowfall at night. Schools at Carpenissi and Agrafon are shut on Tuesday.

The Spercheios River at Lamia overflowed, flooding many regions and covering tracks and causing problems to the rail network.

At Karditsa, in western Thessaly in central Greece, the Koumbourianitis River flooded, causing problems to the Petrotou bridge and resulting in six villages being cut off. 

The Sky Express plane flying from Herakleion, Crete, to the isle of Rhodes, was struck by strong gale force winds that pushed the jet towards the sea as it tried to land at Diagoras airport. Thankfully it managed to stop at the side of the corridor at the edge of the sea. The fire brigade rushed to the site. The sixteen passengers were well but it is a flight they’ll never forget….