Evros on “Red Alert” – 112 Emergency message issued in Soufli due to river overflow

A 112 emergency alert sounded on the mobile phones of residents in Lavara, Soufli, early on Wednesday morning (25/02), due to the overflow of the Evros River.

Specifically, as reported by ERT, the night was particularly difficult for residents in the riverside areas of the Evros River, as the water level has far exceeded the alarm threshold of 6.40 metres, reaching as high as 7 metres yesterday.

The situation is described as extremely critical.

It is noted that on Tuesday morning (24/02) a levee burst in the area of Amorio, with large volumes of water flooding the plain located in front of the village.

Yesterday at noon, the local coordinating body convened and decided to close all crossings from the vertical road axis.

Residents of homes located next to the road were also advised to remain vigilant throughout the night and, if necessary, request sandbags in order to prevent further flooding.

In the village of Pythio, the waters have already reached the courtyards of homes, while in Lavara a barrier has burst, further worsening the situation. Throughout the night, residents tried to create makeshift embankments with sandbags in order to prevent the water from entering their houses.

At the same time, as reported by ERT, the Bulgarian authorities have informed the Greek authorities that very large volumes of water are expected from Bulgaria over the next 36 hours, while significant flows are also being recorded from Turkey.

It is estimated that the discharge is reaching 1,500 cubic metres per second, mainly during the night hours, with residents speaking of a loud roaring sound from the mass of water descending from the two neighbouring countries.

More than 150,000 stremmas of arable land have already been flooded. The water is estimated to require a long period of time to recede, creating a serious problem for farmers, as they will not be able to proceed with sowing. At the same time, residents fear that the waters may enter their homes.

Experts point out that the phenomenon is not linked to weather conditions in Greece, but to the weather in neighbouring countries. Heavy snowfall has occurred in Bulgaria and, with temperatures expected to rise in the coming days, gradual snowmelt is anticipated, which will continue to feed the river with large volumes of water.

The images being recorded in Evros are characteristic, with sports fields and basketball courts almost submerged up to the nets by the floodwaters.