Evros: The 1,500 cubic metres per second and the fence trapping the waters

The damage caused by the rise in the water level of the Evros River to the agricultural production of the border prefecture (and therefore to its economy) is already very significant.

Unfortunately, however, this is not the worst news. The destruction will be even greater in the coming days, as the phenomenon is in full evolution.

“According to estimates, a total of 150,000 stremmas are currently under water,” Kostas Alexandris, President of the Alexandroupoli Livestock Farmers’ Agricultural Association, told NEWS 24/7. “The volume of water is enormous and very difficult to manage,” he added.

We are talking about cereals, clover, some tree crops, as well as extensive damage to pumping stations and other types of equipment.

“The water level is truly very high. And over the next 10 days it is expected to rise even further, as the snowmelt process in Bulgaria is underway. The seven-metre mark has been exceeded — that is the safety threshold. On Turkish territory, which is flatter on that side, the situation is even worse, with approximately 300,000 stremmas covered by water,” Mr Alexandris informed us.

The question that naturally arises is how producers can be protected from this destruction and the fury of nature.

“A good and essential question. I believe the time has come for Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey to sit at the same table and discuss in depth the issue of water management and the river problem. It is not simple. In the summer we face drought, with equally serious consequences. We need solutions. These could include deepening the riverbed or diverting its waters elsewhere. All of this needs to be discussed,” our interlocutor from Evros said.

He added: “The volume of water we have to manage is estimated at 1,500 cubic metres per second. It is terrifying — a very large figure. This year’s crops are effectively lost. Both cereals and clover. Especially for the latter, it is important to know that ELGA does not cover winter production. You can understand the scale of the damage.”

Strange as it may sound, the problem is being exacerbated by the fence erected in the prefecture along the border with Turkey. There are areas where the waters become trapped and cannot “escape” precisely because of the fence. Proper and appropriate provisions were not made for water outflow, with the result that in some areas pumping has become necessary.

On Wednesday, both Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis saw the extent of the destruction firsthand. The problems they will be called upon to resolve are numerous.

“We know that in the coming days a delegation will arrive to inspect the area and accurately assess the damage to crops, embankments, etc. The discussion on compensation will also begin. It is still early, but that discussion is inevitable. At the moment, producers do not even have access to their fields to take the photographs required for monitoring, etc.,” was Mr Alexandris’ concluding comment.

The situation on the ground

In the early hours, Lavara in Evros was placed on highest alert when the sudden and particularly intense rise in water levels created an immediate flood risk for homes in the settlement. Shortly after 2:30am, the 112 emergency alert system was activated to notify residents and precautionary protection measures were taken, while earlier the northern junction of the area had been closed as a preventive measure.

At the same time, there was extensive mobilisation of the Police, Fire Service and the services of the Municipality of Soufli until the early morning hours. Civil Protection teams informed citizens of the seriousness of the situation, with particular care given to elderly residents and people with health problems, based on the list of vulnerable citizens compiled by social services.

Most crossings under the vertical axis had already been closed in previous days. Only one remained open to channel water towards the river; however, when pressure reached a critical point, it was decided to close it using large quantities of inert materials. Pumps are operating continuously in Lavara, removing water from the settlement, but the pressure remains extremely strong. On the outer side of the village, the volume of water reaches up to seven metres, exerting enormous pressure on the embankments.

The pressure is shifting further south, with embankments throughout the riverside section being severely tested. From Amorio, where the embankment has collapsed, to Tychero in Evros, the situation is described as critical.