Heavy rainfall across parts of southern Europe brought severe flooding to Greece, Albania and Bulgaria, prompting hundreds of evacuations.
Two people have died and 3 are currently missing in the flooding in Bulgaria. The neighbouring country of the Republic of Macedonia also saw heavy rainfall, with over 50 mm of rain fall in 24 hours in some areas.
Greece
In Greece, the regions of Epirus and Evrytania in the north west suffered the worst of the flooding on Sunday 01 February 2015. Hundreds of people from several villages in the area were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries have been reported.
WMO report that 51 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 01 February 2015 in Kastoria in the region of West Macedonia, northern Greece.
The recent flooding comes at a difficult time for Greece, which faces huge financial problems. The severe weather has grounded flights and ferries have remained stuck in the port of Pireus.
Albania
In Albania, the south of the country was worst hit by flooding after heavy rains forced rivers to overflow. Hundreds of families have been evacuated, although no injuries have been reported. Northern areas of the country are currently struggling with heavy snowstorms which have dumped up to 60 cm of snow in places.
According to WMO figures, 93 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 01 February 2015 in Gjirokastër, southern Albania. Yesterday, 59 mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours in Korçë, south east Albania.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s flood nightmares continue into 2015. In November 2014, Bulgarian TV channel bTV said that 2014 had been the most disastrous year in Bulgaria in modern times.
The same TV channel have reported that as many as 5 people as suspected dead after flash floods in Bulgaria on Sunday 01 February 2015. A state of emergency has been called after floods affected the provinces of Smolyan, Haskovo, Blagoevgrad. Dobrich and Burgas.
The bodies of two victims were found in a river in Blagoevgrad Province in the south west of the country. A woman is reported as missing after she was swept away by flood waters from the Luda Mara River in Petrich, also in Blagoevgrad Province.
Two further victims are thought to be missing after their car was swept away by flood water in Smolyan Province in the south of Bulgaria.
Areas around Burgas and Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast have also seen some flooding, in particular Burgas, Kameno, and Sredets. Over 70 mm of rain fell in the last 24 hours in the city of Burgas. As many as 70 houses have been damaged in the floods after the Tundzha river overflowed. The region suffered from deadly floods in June 2014 where as many as 12 people were killed.
WMO report that 87 mm of rain fell in Sliven, south east Bulgaria, in 24 hours to 01 February 2015.
