Concern over 112 hotline after storm causes 7 deaths

After seven people were killed and more than 100 injured following a short and vehement storm that struck the area of Halkidiki in northern Greece on Wednesday night, there was concern that the European emergency number 112, which could have contributed to timely evacuations, is not working.

The victims of the stormy weather were mostly foreign nationals: two elderly Czech tourists who were killed when strong winds and floodwaters swept away their travel trailer in Sozopoli; a Romanian woman and an 8-year-old boy, who both died after a roof collapsed on a restaurant in Nea Plagia; and a man and young boy, both Russians, who were killed after a tree fell near their hotel in the seaside town of Potidea.

The seventh victim was a 62-year-old Greek fisherman. Reported missing on Wednesday afternoon, his body was found Thursday evening off the coast of Nea Kallikrateia.

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