Severe storms batter Corfu, Epirus and Kastoria

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The news in Greek

1. καταιγίδα  (f.)
   πολύ δυνατή βροχή με αέρα, συχνά με αστραπές και βροντές ↩︎
2. ισχυρός
   που έχει μεγάλη δύναμη, πολύ δυνατός ↩︎
3. πλημμύρα  (f.)
   κατάσταση όπου πολύ νερό σκεπάζει ένα μέρος της ξηράς ↩︎
4. ζημιά  (f.)
   κακό αποτέλεσμα σε κάτι, όταν κάτι χαλάει ή καταστρέφεται ↩︎
5. καλλιέργεια  (f.)
   το ότι βάζουμε φυτά στη γη για να πάρουμε προϊόντα, και τα ίδια τα χωράφια με τα φυτά ↩︎
6. κίνδυνος  (m.)
   κατάσταση όπου μπορεί να συμβεί κάτι κακό ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What problems do some villages have after the bad weather?

Question 2: What are the authorities doing in response to the storms?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
καταιγίδα  (f.)	thunderstorm
ισχυρός	strong / powerful
πλημμύρα  (f.)	flood
ζημιά  (f.)	damage
καλλιέργεια  (f.)	cultivation / crops
κίνδυνος  (m.)	danger

Read the full story

Large parts of western and northern Greece are again facing severe weather, only days after powerful storms caused serious damage. According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), a new and long‑lasting spell of bad weather is bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong southerly winds across the country, with the worst conditions in the Ionian Sea, Epirus and Macedonia.

The new system arrives while many communities are still repairing damage from the previous storms. In Epirus, one of the regions hit hardest, roads, bridges and water pipes were already weakened. Local authorities report “incalculable” damage to road and water networks, and warn that the saturated ground increases the risk of further floods and landslides.

In the mountainous area of Tzoumerka, the settlement of Sgara experienced dramatic flooding when the Kataraktinos River rose suddenly and swept away objects and infrastructure along its course. Houses were filled with mud, some buildings were buried, and several homes may be declared unsafe after inspections. Many residents are temporarily staying with relatives or in emergency accommodation.

Electricity and water supply remain fragile. Crews from the national power distribution operator have been working for days to restore lines in isolated villages, some of which were left without electricity and running water while homes and farmland were under water. In several places, access is possible only through narrow, newly opened tracks where heavy machinery has cleared mud and debris from collapsed roads.

On the island of Corfu and the nearby Diapontia Islands in the northern Ionian Sea, the previous storms also left a trail of destruction. The small island of Mathraki suffered power cuts, landslides and extensive tree falls, including many cypress trees. A coastal engineering structure and parts of the seafront road were badly damaged, while at least one house lost dozens of roof tiles, possibly due to a local tornado.

In northern Corfu, areas such as Karousades and the coastal resort of Arillas saw mud and debris flow into homes and businesses. Shops and houses near the beach reported major losses of equipment and furniture. Sections of the coastal road remain closed, and engineers from the municipality of North Corfu, the Ionian Islands Region and the Ministry of Climate Crisis are beginning on‑site inspections to record damage and prepare compensation and repair works.

The mayor of North Corfu, Giorgos Macheimaris, described the situation as extremely serious, noting that around 20 communities face problems with water supply, electricity, transport and, above all, resident safety. Schools and cultural centres in the area will remain closed as a precaution while technical teams continue checks. The deputy mayor has also linked recent landslides to tree cutting earlier in the year, saying a formal complaint has been submitted; this claim is now under examination.

Further north, in Kastoria in Western Macedonia, the heavy rain has had mixed effects. Experts explain that the lake of Kastoria has risen by about 18 centimetres in four days, which corresponds to more than 5 million cubic metres of water. This is considered positive for the lake’s ecosystem after previous low water levels. However, across the wider regional unit the same rainfall caused extensive flooding, particularly in farmland with beans, potatoes and apples. Local authorities state that some farmers have lost their entire harvest, which had not yet been collected.

Floods have also affected pumping stations and water facilities in areas such as Nestorio and villages along the Aliakmon River. Because of temporary contamination risks from overflowing rivers and damaged embankments, residents in some communities are using bottled water instead of tap water. Repair teams are reinforcing river banks and flood defences and clearing fallen trees and debris from rivers and streams. Kastoria has been placed under a state of emergency for civil protection until February 2026, which allows faster procedures for funding and reconstruction.

The renewed concern across Greece comes from forecasts that this bad‑weather episode will last several days. EMY and independent meteorologists warn that although each individual storm may not always be extreme, the total volume of rainfall over time could be very high, especially in regions where the soil is already saturated. Some experts use the term “P‑type” weather pattern to describe a situation where weather fronts repeatedly affect the same areas, increasing the danger of flooding.

Several well‑known Greek forecasters have given detailed warnings. Former EMY director Theodoros Kolydas emphasises that long‑lasting rain could strongly affect western Greece, including Epirus and the Ionian Islands, as well as eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the north‑eastern Aegean. Meteorologist Klearchos Marousakis describes the week as very dangerous because of a strong cyclogenesis in the Ionian Sea, a process where a deep low‑pressure system forms and can bring intense rain and thunderstorms. Giorgos Tsatrafilias speaks of the possibility of more than 150–200 tonnes of water per hectare falling in some places over three to four days, accompanied by southerly winds of 7–8 on the Beaufort scale and snow only at high altitudes.

Other meteorologists, such as Giannis Kallianos and Nikoleta Ziakopoulou, list the areas with the highest risk: the Ionian Islands (including Corfu, the Diapontia Islands and Paxoi), Epirus, western and southern Peloponnese, western and central mainland Greece, and later central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the north‑eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese. They expect rain to spread gradually to much of the country, including the regions around Athens (Attica) and Thessaloniki, especially from mid‑week onwards.

According to EMY’s detailed forecast, Tuesday brings strong rain and storms mainly to the northern Ionian Sea and coastal Epirus. On Wednesday, the bad weather expands across western Greece, then into eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Thursday and Friday are expected to be the most difficult days, with heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Ionian Islands, Epirus, western and central mainland Greece, the Peloponnese, much of Macedonia and Thrace, and then the eastern Aegean and Dodecanese. In the mountains of Epirus and Macedonia there may be temporary snowfall. Conditions are forecast to improve in the west on Saturday and in the east on Sunday, though temperatures will generally fall, especially in central and northern areas.

For many language learners and observers outside Greece, these events illustrate how Mediterranean countries can experience a combination of intense rainfall, complex local geography and vulnerable infrastructure. Greek authorities at national, regional and municipal level are focusing on civil protection, damage assessment and long‑term flood defences, while residents in affected areas remain cautious as new storms arrive over already damaged landscapes.

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek through a range of online courses, where we regularly share practical advice on how to learn Greek fast and make steady progress in everyday study.