There have been 70 deadly floods that Greece has experienced in the last 45 years (1980 to date) due to heavy rainfall, resulting in 190 people losing their lives, as reported by the METEO group. Deadly flooding events are systematically recorded by the METEO team of the Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development of the National Observatory of Athens, and give a picture of the devastating effects of flooding.

The data, as METEO points out, reveals a worrying trend: the number of flood deaths is increasing over time. Indicatively, half of the recorded deaths in the entire 45-year period occurred in the last decade. Most losses, 60%, are recorded in the autumn months, confirming the danger of rainfall at this time. As METEO points out, the available demographic data reveal that the majority of those who died in these episodes were men, namely 65%. Regarding age, 60% were over 45 years old.

“The results highlight the importance of preparedness, especially during the autumn months when the risk of heavy and extreme rainfall and flooding increases. It is important to emphasize that according to the most recent and valid scientific studies, the frequency and intensity of rainfall in the Eastern Mediterranean region have already increased and are very likely to increase further due to climate change, making it necessary to strengthen prevention measures and raising awareness and informing citizens about the risks associated with floods”, the METEO team underlines in its post.