Storm Adele Triggers Floods and Landslides Across Greece

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The news in Greek

1. κακοκαιρία  (f.)
   πολύ άσχημος καιρός με βροχή, αέρα, κρύο ή καταιγίδες ↩︎
2. πλημμύρα  (f.)
   πολύ νερό που βγαίνει έξω από ποτάμι ή θάλασσα και σκεπάζει δρόμους ή σπίτια ↩︎
3. κατολίσθηση  (f.)
   όταν πολλή γη ή πέτρες πέφτουν ξαφνικά από ένα βουνό ή πλαγιά ↩︎
4. ζημιά  (f.)
   φθορές ή σπάσιμο σε κτίρια, πράγματα ή δρόμους ↩︎
5. ρέμα  (n.)
   στενό φυσικό κανάλι όπου τρέχει νερό, συνήθως μικρό ποτάμι ↩︎
6. καταιγίδα  (f.)
   δυνατή βροχή με πολύ αέρα, συχνά με αστραπές και βροντές ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Besides floods and landslides, what other kinds of damage did Storm Adele cause in Greece?

Question 2: What do residents and experts say they want after Storm Adele?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
κακοκαιρία  (f.)	bad weather
πλημμύρα  (f.)	flood
κατολίσθηση  (f.)	landslide
ζημιά  (f.)	damage
ρέμα  (n.)	stream
καταιγίδα  (f.)	storm (thunderstorm)

Read the full story

Severe weather system “Adele” has caused extensive flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage in several parts of Greece, from the northern island of Thasos and the mountains of Epirus to the wider area of Athens. Local authorities, scientists and residents describe a combination of unusually intense rainfall and long‑standing problems in flood protection and urban planning.

On the island of Thasos, especially in the villages of Panayia and Potamia, only two hours of torrential rain were enough to turn streets into fast‑moving streams. Homes and hotel basements flooded, and parked cars were swept away by water. The fire brigade received more than 30 calls for pumping operations in the coastal area of Skala Potamias, while one driver had to be rescued after his vehicle was carried off by the current.

Residents on Thasos said they were “counting their losses” once the water receded. Some noted that the same areas had flooded in 2019, arguing that although some technical works were carried out in the meantime, the island still needs stronger long‑term flood defences. Local officials stressed that the damage this time was partly limited because tourism is low in winter, which made it easier for crews to move around and respond quickly.

The bad weather also hit north‑western Greece. In the Tzoumerka mountains, experts reported that the volume of rainfall over one week was close to the usual annual total for the region, reaching about 1,000 millimetres. According to geologist Dr Evangelos Nikolaou from the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Exploration (EAGME), this exceptional rainfall has triggered large landslides and serious erosion.

In the municipality of Dodoni, a key road linking Agios Andreas with the Tyrria–Sistrouni axis suffered heavy subsidence and was cut off. Around Ioannina, steep mountain roads were blocked by huge fallen rocks. In the village of Agnanta, landslides left some houses hanging over empty space, raising concerns about the safety of buildings and residents in the longer term.

The situation is similar on the island of Corfu, particularly along the western coast. Continuous landslides have sent rocks onto the main roads to Konto Gialos and Glyfada. The beach at Glyfada is still receiving strong runoff from the surrounding mountains days after the main downpour, damaging road surfaces and affecting local businesses that had already been struggling at the end of the tourist season.

In the region of Attica, which includes Athens, storm Adele struck twice within 24 hours. Heavy showers in Likovrysi and Metamorfosi turned streets into temporary rivers. In Neo Psychiko and Nea Kifisia, residents reported a sudden squall, described by some as a “small tornado”, that uprooted trees, destroyed walls and damaged parked cars.

Municipal crews in Kifisia removed fallen trunks and branches from streets and pavements. According to the deputy mayor Giorgos Kasnaferis, at least 15 trees fell within a few hours, while the fire brigade in Attica received around 30 calls linked to tree cutting and removal. Local authorities emphasised that work to clear debris and check trees would continue as more rain was expected.

In central Athens, the Prophet Daniel stream bridge on Salaminiou Street became a particular concern. The Municipality of Athens warned that the bridge structure had partially collapsed, and traffic for all vehicles was banned. The risk was considered serious because heavy lorries normally use this route. The situation worsened when a fire broke out under the bridge on Saturday morning, in an area with high‑voltage power lines, prompting another emergency intervention by the fire service.

Municipal police and technical services introduced traffic diversions and began an urgent assessment of the bridge’s stability. A team from the public electricity distribution operator (DEDDIE) also inspected the site. City officials said they would continue to inform residents about the safety of the bridge and any repairs needed, underlining that protecting critical infrastructure is essential during increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

The storm has also highlighted long‑standing drainage and planning problems in some Athens neighbourhoods. In Rizoupoli, a district in the north‑eastern part of the capital, recent downpours once again caused flooded streets and basements. A team of surveyors and engineers known as “Geomythiki” has repeatedly warned that sections of the Podoniftis stream and its tributaries run directly beneath residential buildings.

According to their reports, for around 25 years water from a Podoniftis tributary has passed under a three‑storey block of flats in Rizoupoli and then flows into the Kifisos river. In one building with 11 apartments on Tanaidos Street, heavy rain sends water surging through the basement before it exits at the back of the block and continues into the next street. Debris carried by the stream can block the outlet and increase the risk of sudden flooding.

The area also contains a secondary school and a children’s playground only a short distance from the underground watercourse. Residents say they fear for their homes and personal safety every time the weather forecast predicts strong rain. Some property owners, however, appear resigned to the situation after many years without a permanent solution.

The Geomythiki team has documented similar cases in other Athens districts, including Polygono and Peristeri, where building development has partly covered or narrowed old natural streams. Comparing images from three years ago with scenes from the latest storms, the group argues that “the danger remains” and that almost no visible improvements have been made.

Engineers in the group call for a comprehensive plan to map and secure all streams and drainage channels, especially in densely populated urban areas. They say that clearly identifying these waterways and adapting local planning rules could reduce the risk of damage and protect lives during future storms. Local and national authorities have not yet presented a single unified strategy, but the recent impact of storm Adele has renewed the public debate about how Greece prepares for increasingly intense weather events.

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek, where we offer various types of online Greek language classes for different levels and interests.