Zakynthos: Floods, landslides, evacuations and pumping of water – The recording of damages has begun

Incredible pictures the residents of Zakynthos saw with the first light of yesterday, as the heavy rain that started at noon on Wednesday and lasted until dawn on Thursday caused huge problems throughout the island.

Dawn about 50 Roma were released from a plot of land near the airport, the fire department pumped more than 100 water from homes and businesses, while damage to a house was caused by a landslide in Palia Vrysi. Roads throughout the island remained closed, while places in Lagana, Kalamaki, Ampelokipos, Agios Dimitris, Sarakinado, Kalpaki and other villages turned into lakes. Landslides also occurred in Argassi – Vassiliko, Akrotiri, Kastro, Lithakia and Xygia.

In an emergency situation
As confirmed by both the Deputy Governor of Zakynthos Katerina Mothonaios and the Deputy Mayor Nikitas Spinos, the island was asked to declare a state of emergency. “There is cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Protection, we have spoken with the Minister and we are proceeding to declare the island in a state of emergency in order to be able to compensate the businessmen and those who have suffered damage to their homes” said Mrs. Mothonaiu, with the Mr. Spino to add: “We will clarify details in cooperation with the government, because there is also communication with the Deputy Minister in addition to the Prime Minister and to see what can be done. It’s an ongoing process.”

Over 100 water pumps
The Deputy Prefecture Governor of P.Y. Zakynthos Panagiotis Aktypis noted that up to late afternoon over 100 water pumpings had been done on our island from homes and businesses and asked the people not to make unnecessary movements, because there is still a great danger.
“Approximately 90 people were the ones we freed and the recording continues. We have 15 pumping and intervention workshops. Reinforcements have arrived from the other side, a team of 6 people EMODE (Special Unit of Forestry Operations) and 4 vehicles from services of Western Greece. We are on general alert. We try day and night to solve the problems. In the church of Roydos, a person almost drowned with his car. He was in great danger, because water began to enter and the water reached above the door. Such incidents happen all the time and citizens should not overestimate their strength that they can cross water. The roads were closed and yet at 3-3.30 in the morning they went for a walk in Laganas and 4-5 young people were trapped.”

The “mountain” fell into the Old Fountain
Unbelievable images unfolded in the city in the Korgialos area in Palia Vrysi near Picridiotissa after a landslide caused the “mountain” to enter a house while several more residents of the area were trapped, after the only road was cut off.
Mr. Panagiotis Theodosis, who saw the mountain actually coming into his house, told IMERA: “The mountain came down and there was no one to pick up the phone. Even 100 told us that he doesn’t have a job. They came in the morning to put a ribbon. The mud was 1 meter deep and from the morning we were removing water and mud from inside the house. We don’t expect anything from anyone, as always.”
For his part, Mr. Giorgos Koutoupis, also a resident of the area, said: “At 11:30 p.m., the part of the mountain gave way and the soil fell, as a result of which the path we pass to our house was also blocked, so we were trapped and we couldn’t go out. To get there we had to go through the neighboring fields, go out on the road and see what had happened. They came from the Municipality and saw the problem. The police came to close the road.”

Homes and businesses flooded in many areas – Complaints from residents
On the road to Kalamaki, in the area of ​​the old KTEO, a resident complained that “since midnight I suffer so much because the Municipality does not clean the ditches. We pay out of pocket for them to come clean. Because of the garbage, the water in the house reached 90 points, in the yard it was 1.5 meters. The garbage of the Municipality entered my house”, while on the same road, a driver was trapped by the rushing waters.
Speaking to “IMERA” about his adventure, Mr. Efthimios Tsibiridis emphasized: “I made the mistake and entered from the Fire Department street (into the narrow street) and as everyone steps on it… the car left me. Instead of turning back, thinking that the water would then recede, I went ahead and finally the car stayed. I gave up in the middle of the road.”
A gym in Kryoneri was also flooded with its co-owner Dimitris Giakoumelos stressing: “It was not a good day for us… We suffered a lot of damage. The Fire Department came and water was pumped out. We had damage to mattresses and equipment.”

Mud “descended” in Agia Triada
Another point that had terrible problems was that of Agia Triada with the residents trying to remove them with rubber bands and brooms. Indignant, Mr. Yannis Marinos, a resident of the area, said: “Too much rain fell. The trough also overflowed. Two years ago, when we had built a channel for the sea that was one meter in diameter, they put a 25 cm pipe and closed it on top. This pipe doesn’t have time to get the water and this bad thing happened. Now it’s clogged and the water won’t go away. What can anyone say?’

“Drowned” Laganas, Agrilia and Kalamaki
Many roads in Lagana, Kalamaki and Agrilia turned into rivers, causing the residents of the areas to face enormous problems.
The vice-president of the TK of Pantokrator Dionysis Sourbis noted: “With a little water we flood… There were many landslides and pipelines broke. The Municipal Authority must act quickly and it is a shame. The president has been with the bulldozer since 2 in the morning trying to solve the problems.”
Mrs. Mavra Vythulka, a resident of the Agrilia area, noted: “The situation was a mess. Luckily we put the sacks on, we were in danger of drowning. Every year the same thing. It is not cleaned, the feeders have to be cleaned for 5-6 years. The wells are gross and we didn’t see any president. Great indifference. 5-6 houses we have a problem”.

Landslides in many areas
Speaking about the large landslides on the island, Zakynthos Deputy Governor Katerina Mothonaou noted: “We were on our feet all night. We had the first meeting on Wednesday and informed about the problems. Interventions took place from noon… We intervened in some places in Agios Dimitris. They didn’t let us do comprehensive so there wouldn’t be an issue. Times have changed. We have to work together. We had huge landslides in the E.O. Zakynthos – Keri and E.O. Zakynthos – Vassilikos and in Akrotiri and Xygia. We also had a serious landslide in the area of ​​Kastro and Konti. There, together with the Technical Services of the Region and the Municipality, we will do a project that will not create a problem for the residences”
Regarding the landslide in Lithakia that happened in the early hours of the morning, the president of the village Kostas Gardelis said: “Great attention is needed from the gas station of Lithakia on the Zakynthos – Keri National Road to Keri. Please don’t run and those who want to go to Keri, you must go right on the road around the community of Lithakia and get off the olive mill”.

Flooded roads almost throughout Zakynthos
Intense flooding occurred in many local communities such as Gaitani, Machairado, Sarakinado, Agios Dimitrios, Vanato, Ampelokipi (Lake Makri), Mouzaki and Pantokrator.
For his part, the Deputy Mayor of Civil Protection Christos Pastras emphasized: “Truly this evening something happened that we had never seen before. The largest volume of water that had fallen on Zakynthos fell. It was more intense from 12.00 to 05.00 when the rain was torrential. It didn’t stop for a minute causing everything to flood. Crops, livestock units, houses, etc. The destruction is enormous. I wish people would be compensated. I will repeat that after Janos we hoped not to see anything like this again. We had at least 30 landslides”
For his part, the Vice-Regional Governor for Business Giorgos Stasinopoulos noted: “The amounts of water that fell on the island were enormous. All District agencies were on the road trying to save property and businesses. Anti-flooding was done, but the amounts of water were enormous.”

Loss recording
The Region invites those who have suffered damage to their properties to call 26953-60400, -401, -402 to register and send photographic material, as it is important to register the damage in the early hours.

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