EU-Politicians Demand Quick Assistance for the Devastated Areas Following the Storms
European Union politicians have urged for prompt aid to be provided to the countries affected by the recent severe storms in Southeast Europe. Additionally, they have emphasized the need for increased investment in climate adaptation measures. In the meantime, several locations in Greece remain cut off from the outside world.
Amid the intense storms in Southeast Europe, several EU politicians have called for faster assistance to be provided for the affected countries and for improved preparedness. “As in previous natural disasters in other EU member states, the EU Solidarity Fund should be utilized for reconstruction,” stated Katarina Barley, Vice President of the European Parliament, to the Editorial network Germany.
The SPD politician stressed that it would be a mistake to view these events as ordinary weather phenomena. Barley emphasized the need for Europe to proceed with greater determination.
Weber: More Investment Needed in Climate Adaptation
Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EVP (European People’s Party) Group, called for increased funding for European disaster response. “The changing weather conditions challenge all of our countries to invest more in climate adaptation and emergency services,” he said.
Weber made it clear that Greece and Bulgaria should receive immediate assistance and reconstruction funds. “Just as the EU supported Germany with over 600 million euros after the floods in 2021, it will support any country that falls victim to extreme weather conditions,” Weber stated.
Greens Call for More Funding and Better Equipment
Rasmus Andresen, spokesperson for the German Greens in the European Parliament, stated that disaster response and humanitarian aid should be better financially equipped. “The proposed 2.15 billion euros by the EU Commission are far from sufficient,” said Andresen.
Green MEP Erik Marquardt suggested that the EU should centralize the procurement of equipment such as firefighting aircraft, transport helicopters, and pumps to rapidly deploy them in disaster-stricken areas.
At least 14 Fatalities from the Storms
The heavy rainfall in Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey in recent days has caused severe flooding. At least 14 people have lost their lives in these three countries, with authorities reporting four deaths in Bulgaria, three in Greece, and seven in Turkey. Several individuals are still missing.
The flooding situation in central Greece has worsened. In the Thessaly region, rain continues to pour, dividing the land into two, as reported by Greek media. The main highway between Athens and Thessaloniki, spanning a distance of 200 kilometers, has been closed since Tuesday evening.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has ordered military deployment, including a brigade of marines stationed near the completely mud-covered port city of Volos. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced that Mitsotakis will visit the disaster-stricken region of Thessaly over the weekend to assess the situation.
Volos has been cut off from the outside world, with access roads destroyed or flooded. Supermarkets have run out of drinking water, and there has been no electricity or water supply for days. Water levels exceed two meters in many areas. The entire Thessaly region, home to around 700,000 people, has been affected by the floods. “Within 36 hours, we received about 5,000 emergency calls; this has never happened before,” said fire department spokesperson Giannis Artopoios to ERTnews.
In the city and municipality of Karditsa, the water has reached the rooftops of houses, forcing residents to seek refuge on their roofs. “At some points, the water is as high as four meters,” said a local resident to Mega TV. The village has become inaccessible, with the entire plain submerged. Rescue units are unable to reach the area, according to reports by Karditsa residents in Greek media.
Thousands Affected in Bulgaria and Turkey
Similar scenes have unfolded in Bulgaria and Turkey. TV footage shows cars and campers being swept into the sea in the Bulgarian resort of Zarewo. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the area. Tourism Minister Zaritsa Dinkova stated that approximately 4,000 people along the entire southern Black Sea coast have been affected by the storm’s consequences.
The situation has since improved, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolaj Denkow after discussions with the crisis management team. As of this morning, the Ministry of Interior found no evidence of people in distress or any new fatalities. It has not rained in the affected region since Wednesday.
In Istanbul, the streets have turned into raging rivers. More than 1,750 homes and workplaces have been flooded due to heavy rainfall, according to the Governor’s Office. An improvement in the weather is only expected on Friday.