“The river Kifissos would not withstand such huge floods” like those of Janos, Daniel and Valencia” assessed o Anastasios I. StamosEmeritus Professor of NTUA and Visiting Professor at the Technical University of Munich, speaking to SKAI on the show “Snapshots” with Vassilis Koufopoulos (21.11.2024) Based on the research that has been carried out, Mr. Stamou stated, among other things, that “the extent of the areas flooded by the Kifissos river” is very large and includes the areas of Agioi Anargyri, Peristeri, Aigaleo, Plato’s Academy , Agios Ioannis Rentis, Moschatos, Neos Faliros, Kaminia and Kallithea.

As the next flood cannot be avoided as Mr. Stamou “Our first concern is not to have victims” and this can be done with the timely and documented warning to the residents of the area who should know what to do. This can be done with the “so-called Flood Early Warning Systems (EFWS)” which as mentioned by Mr. Many countries apply Stamos. A related proposal has been made from 2021 to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

– Can you briefly describe the anti-flooding works in Fr. Kifisso and how was their design done?

The Kifisos River originates from Parnitha, crosses the Basin and empties into Falirikos Ormos. The anti-flood works of Fr. Kifissou designed in 1974 practically concern the arrangement of Fr. Kifissou, which was completed in conjunction with the road project (Kifissou Avenue) in the context of the 2004 Olympic Games. The arrangement was made from the Three Bridges to its estuary. Until St. Annis is completely covered (from above there is L. Kifisou) and then it is open. From the Three Bridges and upstream the river has an open cross section. It consists of 6 sections defined by the mouths of 5 streams which are: the p. Podonifti (in Perissos), the r. Eschatias (in Liosion), the district Moscow (in Peristeri), the district Nice and the r. Prophet Daniel. The supply of water it can transport ranges from 400 m3/s upstream of the confluence of the river. Podonifti up to 1,400 m3/s at its mouth.

– It is designed by Fr. Kephisos to withstand a big storm like those of Janus, Daniel or Valencia?

The planning was done many years ago for a return period of 50 years ie. practically to withstand the great flood that occurs once in 50 years. However, experienced engineers expressed the opinion that with reckless human intervention, Kifissos can withstand at most 20-year floods. Today, the design of Fr. Kifissou would have a recovery period of 100 years and probably more, due to Climate Change that makes floods more frequent and intense.

-Would the consequences be catastrophic in the event of such a flood?

– The Janus, Daniel and Valencia floods were estimated to have return periods from 500 to about 1000 years, i.e. these floods occur every 500 to 1000 years. Consequently, the Kifissos river would not withstand such huge floods and the effects would be very great.