Athens, Greece – A honeymooning Austrian couple is currently missing in Greece after their holiday home was swept away by torrential rains and flash floods. The severe weather, triggered by Storm Daniel, has claimed more than a dozen lives and led to widespread devastation in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria this week.
The couple had sought refuge in a bungalow they had rented for their honeymoon, located in the beach resort of Potistika near Mount Pelion, as heavy rainfall deluged central Greece. Tragically, the house was engulfed by flash floods and carried into the sea. The owner of the accommodation, Samaras Thanakis, recounted the harrowing incident to the BBC, explaining that he and other guests had already evacuated to higher ground and had advised the couple to do the same.
“The situation was very bad. It’s very difficult to decide what to do in a moment like that,” Mr. Thanakis said. He further disclosed that the newlyweds, hailing from the Austrian city of Graz, had recently tied the knot shortly after commencing their holiday.
Greek emergency services, including the fire brigade, have launched a search operation in the area to locate the missing couple and other individuals affected by the floods. The Karditsa plain in central Greece has been inundated, causing villages around Palamas to be submerged. Mayor Giorgos Sakellariou of Palamas urgently appealed for assistance on Greek television, emphasizing the immediate peril faced by residents trapped in their homes.
“The situation in Palamas is tragic,” Mayor Sakellariou stated. “People are trapped in their houses. We will have people drowning.” Rescue efforts have been challenged due to the collapse of several bridges in the region and severe road damage.
Storm Daniel’s impact extended beyond central Greece, affecting Athens, the island of Skiathos, and coastal areas around Volos and Pelion. Thousands of tourists remain stranded on Skiathos, with the extreme weather disrupting travel and evacuation efforts.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled a significant government engagement planned for the weekend in response to the escalating crisis. The storm, which began on Monday, has taken a heavy toll on the affected regions, resulting in multiple casualties, including at least four fatalities in Greece.
Climate scientists have highlighted the role of global warming in intensifying storms, as increased evaporation during the summer leads to more concentrated rainfall and extreme weather events. As the search continues for the missing honeymooners and the affected regions grapple with the aftermath of the floods, the climate crisis serves as a stark reminder of the need for climate action and preparedness in the face of such catastrophic events.
