Weather: Flooded Streets in Alimos – Collapse of a Building’s Wall

The bad weather yesterday caused significant damage to an apartment building in Alimos. The storm that hit Athens on Christmas Eve caused numerous issues, with the southern suburbs receiving the heaviest rainfall.

In the Alimos area, specifically on Lysikratous Street, the rushing waters turned the road into a river in just a few minutes, causing a concrete retaining wall of an apartment building to collapse.

The collapse caused damage to electrical meters, pipes, and the building’s entrance, while large amounts of water and mud entered the interior. About 12 hours after the downpour, residents of the building, in cooperation with municipal crews, continued cleaning efforts, trying to remove the mud and debris from the entrance, which is at a semi-basement level.

A resident of the building mentioned that the problem is recurring, stating, “Every year we have the same problem, two or three times a year. They promise us flood prevention works. They started a project, but it has been stopped for about three years. Only the mayor supports us.” The resident described how the heavy rainfall lasted only five to ten minutes, but it was enough to cause the destruction.

He recounted the moment the wall collapsed, noting that “there was a loud noise, and the wall fell on a column,” while a first-floor resident panicked, fearing further damage to the building. Indicative of the situation, just before the collapse of the wall, the driver of a car parked outside the building climbed on top of the car to avoid being swept away by the rushing waters.

The Fire Department’s Operations Center received more than 50 calls for water pumping and assistance, with most incidents recorded in the southern suburbs. Restoration efforts are ongoing to allow residents to safely return to their homes.

Where the Heaviest Rainfall Was Recorded

According to the network of automatic weather stations of the National Observatory of Athens / Meteo.gr, significant rainfall was recorded in the western mainland and Athens, with the heaviest rainfall until 5:20 PM Greek time recorded in Dafni, Athens with 78 mm. This was followed by Alimos with 77 mm and Vyronas with 75.4 mm. It is worth noting that in central Athens, the rainfall approached 60 mm (58.8 mm). Specifically, in the Attica area, apart from the southern parts, the rest of Athens experienced significant rainfall. In the Gazi area, 59 mm of rain was recorded.

How the Weather Will Develop

On Wednesday (24/12), the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) updated its Emergency Weather Warning, providing more details on where it will rain in the coming days and when the phenomena will weaken.

From the evening, heavy rain is expected in parts of the northern and eastern Aegean islands.

The severe weather will weaken, first in the western regions during the night from Wednesday (24/12) to Thursday (25/12), and later in the rest of the areas on Christmas Day.

Specifically, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in:

The Ionian Sea on Wednesday (24/12) until late at night.
In Epirus, western Thessaly (regions of Karditsa and Trikala), western and central Sterea (regions of Aetolia-Acarnania, Evrytania, and Phocis), and western Peloponnese until the early hours of Christmas Day (Thursday, 25/12).
In Western Macedonia, briefly during the night of Christmas Eve.
In Central Macedonia from early afternoon on Wednesday (24/12) until noon on Christmas Day (Thursday, 25/12).
In Eastern Macedonia and the islands of the northeastern Aegean from Wednesday evening (24/12) until Christmas afternoon (Thursday, 25/12).