Perilous Times and Climate Change
Viscous Storms, Fierce Floods hit Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria
15/02/2010
ATHENS, Greece -- An emergency situation was declared on Sunday
(February 14th) in the northern prefecture of Evros, Greece, where
severe storms pushed water levels in the Maritsa River to dangerous
levels. "We have not reached the critical point yet, but there is a
risk of this," Deputy Interior Minister George Dolios said. Authorities
have been forced to close rail bridges in the region.
Storms and torrential rains also hit parts of Turkey, particularly the
northwest city of Edirne on Saturday. Flooding destroyed farmland and
other property and forced roads and bridges to close.
Melting snow and heavy rains in the last few days resulted in massive
flooding in southern Bulgaria. The Tundzha River overflew its banks and
left many homes under water in the southeast city of Yambol, civil
defence Agency officials announced on Sunday. Floods destroyed bridges
and caused landslides around the town of Elhovo and its surrounding
villages, virtually cutting them off from the rest of the country. More
rain is forecast this week. (Darik - 15/02/10; ANA-MPA, SKAI, AP,
Hurriyet - 14/02/10)