Greece must bolster flood defences and reduce water-guzzling crops, experts say

A photograph taken with a drone shows people walking between flooded fields near the village of Sotirio after Storm Elias, near Larissa, in central Greece. [Achilleas Chiras/EPA]

Greece needs to make space for river flow and boost defenses in the Thessaly Plain, a key breadbasket, to prevent a repeat of last year's devastating floods, experts have advised the government.

The Mediterranean country has been buffeted by floods and wildfires in recent years, raising concerns about its ability to defend against climate change-related weather events.

In September, Storm Daniel dumped record rains, which burst rivers and flooded tens of thousands of acres in the central region of Thessaly, which accounts for 25% of Greece's agricultural produce and 5% of GDP.

Dutch-based agricultural firm HVA, hired by the government to assess the damage, has drafted a plan that recommends moving dykes further away from rivers, deepening riverbeds and banning further construction on floodplains.

Despite the rains, HVA said there was a danger of water...

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