Him alarm bells about the consequences of possible floods in Attica echoes the assistant professor of natural disasters at the University of Athens, Michalis Diakakis, in an interview with APE-MPE, stressing that the basin has the greatest risk of the entire country. It is an area very vulnerable to flooding with a very rich history of problems and many victims.

He also talks about the problems during the recent downpour in Rose and more generally for the escalation of dangerous weather phenomena with corresponding disasters in recent years.

The following is the interview of the assistant professor of Natural Disasters of the University of Athens Michalis Diakakis in APE – BEE and G. Fleas.

Q: Professor, why did Rhodes “drown” from the recent downpour on the island?

The first basic parameter that caused the flooding phenomena is of course the very intense rainfall with large amounts of rain in a short period of time (

The second important factor is the occupation of the flood plain of the Ialyssos stream by properties and infrastructures, among which the closed channel that is formed in the streambed and which has been found to tend to partially or partially block during floods plays a special role. entirely, resulting in overflowing of the stream and movement of water into the road network and settlement.

Q: Why is it that in recent years, every time we have relatively strong weather phenomena, there are large disasters from floods?

On the one hand, because some of the flooding phenomena that have appeared in recent years are extremely extreme (bad weather Daniel, Mediterranean Cyclone Ianos, etc.) and on the other hand, because modern infrastructures, networks and the functions of modern society make it extremely vulnerable to such phenomena due to the interconnectivity and interdependencies of various critical functions. The result of this connectivity is to have a fan of impacts which in many cases extends even beyond the flooded area. This range of effects is uncharted and there is extremely high uncertainty about where it will lead each time, and what consequences will emerge.

Q: What measures should the local administration and the state in general have taken so that we do not have such serious situations every time?

The problem of flooding is an intractable issue that no country in the world has been able to solve completely. I am reminded of catastrophic floods in countries that have invested a lot in protection such as the 2021 flood in Germany with 243 dead and the recent flood in Spain with 223 dead. In Greece, the problem has its roots mainly in older periods, Land use planning was inadequate for decades, flood protection projects not very attractive, resulting in a reality that does not create optimistic prospects for the future. Our cities are certainly not designed for the climate of the future as they are built within the natural flood zones, choking the streams. The use of targeted anti-flooding projects, early warning systems and systematic public education starting from schools are essential moves to reduce the risk. In addition to these, the opening and arrangement of the streams by the gradual removal of constructions from the flood plains, although today it seems practically impossible, is the one strategy that can dramatically reduce the risk

Q: How worried are you about the existing flood protection in the Attica basin and what are the immediate measures that the state should take?

The Athens basin is perhaps the area with the greatest risk in the country. On the one hand the hundreds of critical infrastructures, properties and human lives located within the natural flood zones, and on the other hand the dozens of fires in recent decades create a very dangerous condition. The basin is an area very vulnerable to flooding, with a very rich history of problems and many victims.