Hydrology

Stormy weather and strong winds until Saturday - Risk of flooding in certain geographical areas

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.

Dutch post-disaster advisers support the idea of diverting River Acheloos in Epirus as "the most sustainable solution" to alleviate the water scarcity problem that is threatening agricultural production in the Thessaly region of central Greece.

It is natural that the farmers whose crops were destroyed in the floods caused by the major storm that hit central Greece last year would call for a quick return to the previous regime. 

However, it is the state's responsibility to explain that restoring what was lost is not possible everywhere. 

A holistic plan to reshape the Thessaly Plain needs to be implemented. 

Dutch experts have presented their proposals to the Greek government regarding flood protection management in the central province of Thessaly following last year's calamitous floods.

The master plan, presented by the Netherlands-based HVA International, an agricultural firm that offers post-disaster advice, was discussed in a closed-door session on Tuesday.

Eight environmental organisations are calling on the government to withdraw controversial provisions in a law on costal zones that was tabled in a parliamentary committee on Wednesday which erodes environmental protections and plan a national policy for climate resilience.

With an average daily water consumption of 3 million cubic meters, Istanbul has dams that are 70 percent full, but underground resources are still insufficient, warns an expert.

Professor Dr. İrfan Yolcubal of Istanbul Technical University explained that there are 25 water basins in Türkiye and that the Marmara Water Basin, which covers Istanbul, is considered "water poor" today.

Rescue teams looking for a car that was swept away in a flash flood in Ilia in the Peloponnese on Monday evening have discovered the body of a woman believed to be the vehicle's passenger.

Amid droughts caused by climate change, an expert has drawn attention to the importance of water resources and precautionary measures against its depletion.

Torrential rains witnessed lately have brought a sigh of relief for Istanbul, whose dams were at the risk of drying up due to the scorching heat during summer fueled by the El Nino phenomenon, as the filling rates in Istanbul dams are on the rise.